EP1129411A1 - Procede et appareil relatifs a un systeme de messageries et favorisant la reduction des delais - Google Patents

Procede et appareil relatifs a un systeme de messageries et favorisant la reduction des delais

Info

Publication number
EP1129411A1
EP1129411A1 EP99948512A EP99948512A EP1129411A1 EP 1129411 A1 EP1129411 A1 EP 1129411A1 EP 99948512 A EP99948512 A EP 99948512A EP 99948512 A EP99948512 A EP 99948512A EP 1129411 A1 EP1129411 A1 EP 1129411A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
additional item
distance
item
messaging unit
messaging
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99948512A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1129411A4 (fr
Inventor
Jheroen Pieter Dorenbosch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Motorola Solutions Inc
Original Assignee
Motorola Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motorola Inc filed Critical Motorola Inc
Publication of EP1129411A1 publication Critical patent/EP1129411A1/fr
Publication of EP1129411A4 publication Critical patent/EP1129411A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/18—Service support devices; Network management devices
    • H04W88/185—Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices

Definitions

  • This invention relates in general to communication systems, and more specifically to a method and apparatus in a messaging system for facilitating a reduction of latency.
  • a messaging unit coupled to a messaging system that provides access to a server can deliver various items of information to the messaging unit. For example, one may want to use a messaging unit to find an item in a catalog, determine the location of a restaurant, or check the value of a stock. In a large system, it is likely that more than one end-user will be interested in the same information at about the same time.
  • a problem that can occur in messaging systems is latency, or delay, in sending and receiving information, especially during times of high message traffic. Additional delay, added to already high delays often encountered on some networks, such as the Internet, is not desirable.
  • An aspect of the present invention is a method for facilitating a reduction of latency in a messaging system serving a messaging unit.
  • the method comprises the steps of defining a distance metric for representing a distance between items of information, and defining a distance threshold.
  • the method further comprises the steps of selecting, by the messaging unit, a current item of information sent through a controller of the messaging system; and determining, by one of the messaging unit and the controller, the distance between the current item and an additional item compatible with the messaging unit.
  • the method also includes the step of storing the additional item in a memory of the messaging unit, when the distance between the current item and the additional item is less than the distance threshold.
  • the messaging unit comprises a transceiver for transmitting and receiving information through a controller of the messaging system, and a processing system coupled to the transceiver for processing the information.
  • the processing system is programmed to select a current item of information retrieved through the controller, and to store an additional item compatible with the messaging unit in a memory of the messaging unit, when a distance between the current item and the additional item is less than a distance threshold.
  • the controller comprises a network interface coupled to a network for requesting and receiving a current item of information, and a processing system coupled to the network for processing the current item.
  • the controller further comprises a base station interface coupled to the processing system for controlling a base station to communicate the current item to a messaging unit.
  • the processing system is programmed to define a distance metric for representing a distance between items of information, and to define a distance threshold.
  • the processing system is further programmed to determine the distance between the current item and an additional item compatible with the messaging unit, and to send the additional item to the messaging unit, when the distance between the current item and the additional item is less than the distance threshold.
  • FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary messaging system in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary messaging unit in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary controller in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting operation of the exemplary messaging system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting operation of the exemplary messaging system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a flow diagram depicting operation of the exemplary messaging unit in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow diagram depicting operation of the exemplary messaging unit in accordance with the present invention.
  • an electrical block diagram depicts an exemplary messaging system in accordance with the present invention comprising an infrastructure portion 102 including a controller 112 and a plurality of conventional base stations 116, the communication system also including a plurality of messaging units 122.
  • the base stations 116 preferably communicate with the messaging units 122 utilizing conventional radio frequency (RF) techniques, and are coupled by conventional communication links 114 to the controller 112, which controls the base stations 116.
  • RF radio frequency
  • the hardware of the controller 112 is preferably a combination of a
  • the hardware of the base stations 116 is preferably a combination of the RF-Orchestra!TM transmitter and the RF-Audience!® receiver manufactured by Motorola, Inc.
  • the messaging units 122 are preferably similar to Page Writer® 2000 data messaging units, also manufactured by Motorola, Inc., and also utilize software modified in accordance with the present invention. It will be appreciated that other similar hardware can be used as well for the controller 112, the base stations 116, and the messaging units 122.
  • Each of the base stations 116 transmits RF signals to the messaging units 122 via an antenna 118.
  • the base stations 116 preferably each receive RF signals from the plurality of messaging units 122 via the antenna 118.
  • the RF signals transmitted by the base stations 116 to the messaging units 122 (outbound messages) comprise selective call addresses identifying the messaging units 122, and data messages originated by a message originator, as well as commands originated by the controller 112 for adjusting operating parameters of the radio communication system.
  • the RF signals preferably transmitted by the messaging units 122 to the base stations 116 (inbound messages) comprise responses that include scheduled messages, such as positive acknowledgments (ACKs) and negative acknowledgments (NAKs), and unscheduled messages, such as registration requests and requests for items of information.
  • ACKs positive acknowledgments
  • NAKs negative acknowledgments
  • the controller 112 preferably is coupled by telephone links 101 to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 110 for receiving selective call message originations therefrom.
  • PSTN public switched telephone network
  • Selective call originations comprising data messages from the PSTN 110 can be generated, for example, from a conventional telephone 111 or a conventional computer 117 coupled to the PSTN 110.
  • the controller 112 preferably is coupled through a conventional communication link 121 to a network 120, such as the Internet, for acquiring items of information, e.g., web pages, from at least one server 124 also coupled to the network.
  • the server 124 can be connected directly to the controller 112 without using the network 120.
  • the over-the-air protocol utilized for outbound and inbound messages is preferably selected from Motorola's well-known FLEXTM family of digital selective call signaling protocols. These protocols utilize well-known error detection and error correction techniques and are therefore tolerant to bit errors occurring during transmission, provided that the bit errors are not too numerous. It will be appreciated that other suitable protocols can be used as well. While the preferred embodiment is a two-way wireless messaging system, as depicted in FIG. 1, many aspects of the present invention also are applicable to a one-way wireless messaging system as well. In addition, the present invention is equally applicable to wired messaging systems. The present invention does not depend upon the messaging system being a wireless system.
  • FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary messaging unit 122 in accordance with the present invention.
  • the messaging unit 122 comprises an antenna 204 for intercepting an outbound message and for transmitting an inbound message.
  • the antenna 204 is preferably coupled to a conventional transceiver 208 for receiving the outbound message and for transmitting the inbound message.
  • the transceiver 208 is coupled to a processing system 206 for processing the outbound and inbound messages and for controlling the messaging unit 122 in accordance with the present invention.
  • a user interface 214 preferably is also coupled to the processing system 206 for interfacing with a user.
  • the user interface 214 comprises a conventional display 216 for displaying the inbound and outbound messages, a conventional alert element 218 for alerting the user when the outbound message arrives, and a conventional keyboard 220 for generating the inbound message and for controlling the messaging unit 122.
  • a conventional clock 207 is also coupled to the processing system 206 for supporting time keeping requirements of the messaging unit 122. It will be appreciated, when the present invention is applied to a one-way messaging system, that the transceiver 208 can be replaced with a conventional receiver.
  • the processing system 206 comprises a conventional processor 210 and a conventional memory 212.
  • the memory 212 comprises software elements and data for programming the processing system 206 in accordance with the present invention.
  • the memory 212 preferably includes a selective call address 222 to which the messaging unit 122 is responsive.
  • the memory 212 includes a message processing element 224 for programming the processing system 206 to process messages through well-known techniques.
  • the memory 212 further comprises a selection element 226 for programming the processing system 206 to select items of information from the server 124.
  • the memory 212 also includes a storage control element 228 for programming the processing system to store selected items of information along with corresponding time stamps in accordance with the present invention.
  • the memory 212 includes an item and time stamp store 230 for storing the items and time stamps. Operation of the messaging unit 122 in accordance with the present invention will be described in detail further below.
  • FIG. 3 is an electrical block diagram depicting an exemplary controller
  • the controller 112 comprises a network interface 318 for receiving a message from a message originator via the telephone links 101.
  • the network interface 318 also preferably communicates with the server 124 via the communication link 121 to the network 120. It will be appreciated that, alternatively, more than one network interface 318 can be utilized, and that different network interfaces 318 can be utilized for receiving the message and for communicating with the server 124.
  • the network interface 318 is coupled to a processing system 310 for controlling and communicating with the network interface 318.
  • the processing system is coupled to a base station interface 304 for controlling and communicating with the base stations 116 via the communication links 114.
  • the processing system 310 is also coupled to a conventional clock 336 for providing a timing signal to the processing system 310.
  • the processing system 310 comprises a conventional computer 312 and a conventional mass medium 314, e.g., a magnetic disk drive, programmed with information and operating software in accordance with the present invention.
  • the mass medium 314 comprises a conventional subscriber database 320 for storing profiles defining service for subscribers using the system.
  • the mass medium 314 further comprises a message processing element 322 for processing messages through well-known techniques.
  • the mass medium 314 also includes a network access element 324 for programming the processing system to acquire needed items of information from the server 124 on behalf of the messaging unit 122, in accordance with the present invention.
  • the mass medium 314 further comprises an item and time stamp sender 328 for sending items of information and (optional) corresponding time stamps to the messaging units 122.
  • the base station interface 304 can be eliminated, and communication with the messaging units 122 can take place through the network interface 318. Operation of the controller 112 in accordance with the present invention will be described further below.
  • FIG. 4 is a flow diagram 400 depicting operation of the exemplary messaging system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • a distance metric and a distance threshold are defined 402 for the messaging unit 122, and are then stored in the storage control element 228.
  • the distance metric and the distance threshold are stored in a non-volatile portion of the memory 212.
  • the distance metric and the distance threshold can be programmed over the air from the controller 112, through well-known techniques.
  • the distance metric can be defined, for example, as the number of hyperlinks that must be traversed to reach an additional item of information from a current item of information.
  • Another example of a distance metric definition involves assigning to each item an n-dimensional location.
  • One dimension for example, can be a page number in a catalog.
  • Another dimension can be a subject, such as "men's dress shirts.”
  • the distance between two items is defined to equal the minimum distance between the items in any dimension. Any number of dimensions can be used. This distance metric definition is preferred for catalogs.
  • the distance can be defined as the Euclidean distance. This distance metric definition is preferred when, for example, it is desired for distances in all the dimensions to be short simultaneously.
  • the distance threshold is simply a numeric value with which the distance, as defined by the distance metric, is compared to make a decision, as described further below.
  • the messaging unit 122 selects 404 a current item of information, e.g., a web page, that is retrieved, for example, from the server 124 through the controller 112 and base stations 116, using well-known techniques.
  • a current item of information e.g., a web page
  • the "selection" of the current item preferably occurs in response to the messaging unit 122 sending a request to the controller 112 for a specific item of information, identified, for example, by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
  • URL Uniform Resource Locator
  • items of interest can be identified, for example, by pre-programmed or downloaded information stored in a memory of the messaging unit, as well as by user input.
  • the unit selects the current item by monitoring a stream of items sent over the channel until matching one of the identified items of interest.
  • the messaging unit 122 After selecting the current item, the messaging unit 122 then monitors 406 the channel for an additional item of information that is compatible with the messaging unit 122.
  • the additional item has been requested by another messaging unit 122 that shares the channel with the messaging unit 122 that selected the current item.
  • the additional item preferably is sent periodically, for example, as an information services message.
  • the processing system 206 checks whether the additional • item has been found. If not, the messaging unit 122 continues to monitor 406 the channel. If, on the other hand, the additional item has been found, the processing system 206 accesses 410 the storage control element 228 to determine the distance between the current item and the additional item. At step 412 the processing system 206 checks whether the distance is less than the distance threshold. If not, the flow returns to step 406 to monitor the channel, without storing the additional item. If so, the processing system 206 checks 414 whether the additional item is already stored in the item and time stamp store 230. If so, the processing system 206 returns to step 406 to monitor the channel.
  • the processing system 206 stores 416 the additional item and a time stamp in the item and time stamp store 230.
  • the time stamp indicates the time at which the messaging unit 122 selected the current item.
  • the time stamp can indicate the time at which the messaging unit 122 selected the current item.
  • the processing system 206 then indicates to the user that the item is available for immediate presentation. This can be done, for example, by blinking a hyperlink for the item, by changing the color of the hyperlink, or by some other visible, audible, or tactile indication. Flow then returns to step 406 to continue monitoring.
  • the present invention reduces latency by predicting related items of information that the user of a messaging unit is likely to need in the future, and by storing the items of information in the messaging unit in advance of the user's need.
  • FIG. 5 is a flow diagram 500 depicting operation of the exemplary messaging system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • the controller 112 determines which additional items of information should be downloaded and stored in the messaging unit 122.
  • the distance metric and the distance threshold are defined in a manner similar to that described herein above for the flow diagram 400, and stored in the item and time stamp sender 328.
  • the messaging unit 122 selects 504 a current item of information retrieved through the controller utilizing well- known techniques.
  • the processing system 310 uses the network access element 324 to access 506 the network 120 for an additional item of information that is compatible with the messaging unit 122.
  • the processing system 310 continues to access 506 the network and search for the additional item of information.
  • the processing system 310 accesses 510 the item and time stamp sender 328 to determine the distance between the current item and the additional item.
  • the processing system 310 sends 514 the additional item and a time stamp to the messaging unit 122 through the base stations 116.
  • the time stamp indicates the time at which the messaging unit 122 selected the current item.
  • the time stamp can indicate the time at which the processing system 306 located the additional item.
  • the controller 112 can omit sending the time stamp, and the messaging unit 122 can generate the time stamp from its internal clock 207.
  • the processing system 206 of the messaging unit 122 then stores 516 the additional item and the time stamp in the item and time stamp store 230.
  • the processing system 206 then indicates 518 to the user that the item is available for immediate presentation, as described above.
  • the second embodiment of the present invention not only reduces the latency, as before, but also can provide direction to the user's search for information, as well as a greater assurance that the items of information will be available at the messaging unit 122 when needed.
  • FIG. 6 is a flow diagram 600 depicting operation of the exemplary messaging unit in accordance with the present invention.
  • Flow begins with the user requesting 602 an additional item of information by, for example, moving a cursor to a hyperlink, and then selecting the hyperlink, through well-known techniques.
  • the processing system 206 of the messaging unit 122 checks 604 whether the additional item is already stored in the item and time stamp store 230. If so, the processing system 206 retrieves 606 the additional item from the item and time stamp store 230, for immediate presentation, e.g., on the display 216, to the user, thereby advantageously reducing latency.
  • step 608 is applicable only to two-way messaging systems.
  • FIG. 7 is a flow diagram 700 depicting operation of the exemplary messaging unit in accordance with the present invention.
  • Flow begins with the processing system 206 checking 702 the age of any additional items in the item and time stamp store 230. Preferably, this is accomplished by comparing each time stamp with the current time, as determined from the clock 207.
  • the processing system 206 waits 710 a predetermined time, and then returns to step 702 to check again. If, on the other hand, an additional item's age has exceeded the predetermined age limit, the processing system 206 checks whether the user has requested presentation of the additional item.
  • the present invention provides a method and apparatus that facilitates a reduction of latency in a messaging system providing information access.
  • the present invention reduces latency by predicting related items of information that the user of a messaging unit is likely to need in the future, and by storing the items of information in the messaging unit in advance of the user's need.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur la définition (402) d'un seuil de distance et d'un métrique de distance représentant la distance entre deux éléments d'information d'un système de messagerie. Une unité (122) de messagerie sélectionne (404, 504) un élément actuel d'information transmis via le gestionnaire (112) du système de messagerie. L'une des unités de messagerie et le gestionnaire déterminent (410, 510) la distance entre l'élément actuel et un élément additionnel compatible avec l'unité de messagerie laquelle stocke (416, 516) l'élément additionnel dans sa mémoire lorsque la distance entre l'élément actuel et l'élément additionnel est inférieure au seuil de distance.
EP99948512A 1998-11-09 1999-09-30 Procede et appareil relatifs a un systeme de messageries et favorisant la reduction des delais Withdrawn EP1129411A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US18907298A 1998-11-09 1998-11-09
US189072 1998-11-09
PCT/US1999/022713 WO2000028423A1 (fr) 1998-11-09 1999-09-30 Procede et appareil relatifs a un systeme de messageries et favorisant la reduction des delais

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1129411A1 true EP1129411A1 (fr) 2001-09-05
EP1129411A4 EP1129411A4 (fr) 2002-03-13

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99948512A Withdrawn EP1129411A4 (fr) 1998-11-09 1999-09-30 Procede et appareil relatifs a un systeme de messageries et favorisant la reduction des delais

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1129411A4 (fr)
AU (1) AU6167699A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000028423A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5594911A (en) * 1994-07-13 1997-01-14 Bell Communications Research, Inc. System and method for preprocessing and delivering multimedia presentations
US5815667A (en) * 1995-11-28 1998-09-29 Ncr Corporation Circuits and methods for intelligent acknowledgement based flow control in a processing system network

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
INOUE H ET AL: "AN ADAPTIVE WWW CACHE MECHANISM IN THE AI3 NETWORK" INTERNET, 20 February 1997 (1997-02-20), XP002092080 *
RABINOVICH M ET AL: "Not all hits are created equal: cooperative proxy caching over a wide-area network" COMPUTER NETWORKS AND ISDN SYSTEMS, NORTH HOLLAND PUBLISHING. AMSTERDAM, NL, vol. 30, no. 22-23, 25 November 1998 (1998-11-25), pages 2253-2259, XP004152176 ISSN: 0169-7552 *
See also references of WO0028423A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6167699A (en) 2000-05-29
WO2000028423A1 (fr) 2000-05-18
EP1129411A4 (fr) 2002-03-13

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