KR19980033376A - How to Display Messages at the Select Call Receiver and Select Call Receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a selection call receiver having a display device capable of selecting a display driving mode according to a reception address and displaying a message suitable for a service type. One line display device for one screen and a display driver for selecting a display mode depending on whether the received message is a personal call or an information service. Information services containing long messages are displayed scrolling word by word in the same way as bulletin boards. Even a single-line display device having a small display capacity can be displayed in a readable display method. The message can be read easily by changing the display mode for the service type.

Description

How to Display Messages at the Select Call Receiver and Select Call Receiver

The present invention relates to a selective call receiver having a reception message display function and a message displaying method in the selective call receiver.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Registration Application No. 128443/1990 describes a conventional selective call receiver with a reception message display function.

According to the above application, the selective call receiver comprises determining means for determining whether the received message is a communication message from a receiving information service company, in order to receive and display service information provided from the information service company. If the received message is a communication message, the storage means stores this message differently from the service information. When the display mode is selected as the service information display mode, the communication message is displayed first.

Since this type of system uses a paging system for information services, it requires a selective call receiver (such as a pager) having a display capacity corresponding to the amount of information. For example, a pager capable of receiving and displaying 20 characters x 2 lines or 40 characters x 4 lines for one screen has been mainly used.

Receivers with large display capacities require large displays (such as LCDs) and display drivers to drive the displays. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the system price becomes expensive. There is also a select call receiver (pager) that scrolls through a line of messages on the screen. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of displaying on the screen by the selection call receiver.

In the display example of FIG. 8, the message is scrolled by one character. If the message frame changes, for example every 0.5 seconds, the previous message may be displayed 4.5 (= 0.5 x 9) seconds.

In this display method, however, the display device only displays a short message for the individual calling service and does not display the message in a routine format used for the information service. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in that the message is difficult to read when scrolling.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a selective call receiver capable of providing good message readability and good system operability suitable for a service type.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a message displaying method in a selective call receiver that can provide good message readability and good system operability suitable for a service type.

It is an object of the present invention, in a selective call receiver for receiving messages of multiple call numbers, to display a message based on matching means for matching the call number of the received message with an indication type, and a method of displaying the matched indication type. And means for displaying a message to the selected call receiver.

In addition, an object of the present invention is a message display method in a selective call receiver for receiving messages of multiple call numbers, the method comprising: storing an indication type indicating a message display method for each call number; Searching for the display type of the simultaneous occurrence display type against the call number of; and displaying the received message based on the retrieved display type display method.

In the present invention, since the display mode is automatically selected in accordance with the received message for the individual call or the information service, a readable message suitable for the type of service can be displayed on the one-line display device, and a system operation with good system operation is provided.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a pager configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exemplary diagram of a signal format.

3 is a diagram showing an identification number stored in the ID storage unit 5. FIG.

4 shows a message stored in the message storage unit 6;

5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a pager according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 illustrates an incoming message displayed in an individual paging service.

7 illustrates a received message stored in an information service.

8 is an exemplary view showing an operation flow of a conventional pager.

Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

1: antenna

2: receiver

3: Decoder

4: message processing unit

5: ID memory

6: message storage

8: notification unit

14-1: display drive unit A

14-2: display drive unit B

15: display device

1 is a block diagram showing a pager configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The antenna 1 efficiently converts electromagnetic wave energy modulated into a synchronization signal, a call signal, and a message signal into an electrical signal and supplies it to the receiver 2. The receiver 2 demodulates this electrical signal into a baseband signal and supplies it to the decoder 3. The decoder 3 detects the synchronization signal from the baseband signal and reads out the received signal. When a call signal corresponding to a self call ID stored in the ID storage unit 5 is contained in the received signal, the decoder 3 decodes the next message signal.

The signal format of the call signal used in the present embodiment will be described below. 2 is an exemplary diagram of a signal format.

The signal format used in this embodiment conforms to the Post Office Code Standardization Advisory Group (POCSAG).

Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a preamble signal, 22 a frame synchronization signal, 23 an ID signal, 24, 25, and 26 a message word, and 27 an idle signal. The idle signal 27 is a signal transmitted when there is no call signal or message signal to be transmitted.

In the POCSAG mode, a batch section comprising the frame synchronization signal 22, the ID signal 23 and the message words 24, 25, 26 follows the preamble signal. One batch consists of one synchronization signal and eight frames and has 32 bits. One frame is divided into two code words.

As shown in Fig. 2, the magnetic ID signal 23 is in the third code word. Following the magnetic ID signal, message words 24, 25, and 26 for three code words follow in sequence. In this case, the idle signal 27 indicates the end of the message word. Each of the three code words consists of eight alphabetic characters.

Upon receiving the call signal of the signal format shown in FIG. 2, the decoder unit 3 bit-synchronizes with the preamble signal 21 to detect the frame synchronization signal 22 to recognize the timing of the code word. After the detection of the self ID signal, the decoder unit 3 continuously receives the message words 24, 25, 26 following the ID signal 23, and then detects another ID signal or the idle signal 27, thereby making the message signal. Recognize the transfer complete. The decoder 23 converts the received message words 24, 25, and 26 into CCITT conforming codes and transmits them to the message processing section 4 together with the received ID. When the decoder 3 detects the self ID signal and receives the message signal, the decoder 3 drives the notification unit 8. Accordingly, the loudspeaker 9 makes a sound to notify the user of the reception of the message. In addition to the loudspeaker 9, a vibrator, a light emitting diode for emitting light, or the like can be used as a recognition device for notifying the received message.

According to the prior art, the notification operation can be stopped by executing the automatic reset operation after a predetermined period has elapsed from the start of the notification to the decoder unit 3 or the notification unit 8. If the read switch 10 is operated manually, the decoder unit 8 may reset the operation of the notification unit 8 via the message processing unit 4.

Next, the ID signal will be described in detail. Typically one pager can own multiple IDs. For example, each ID may be assigned to an individual call as well as to information services such as weather forecasts, news, and the like. Many IDs are stored in the ID storage unit 5 in advance. The ID stored in the ID storage unit 5 is shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first ID is 0320004. The second ID is 0001000. The third ID is 0025008. The fourth ID is 0020000. The fifth ID is 0001100. The sixth ID is 0030008. The service identification flag is a flag for identifying a service type corresponding to the ID. In this case, service identification flag 0 corresponds to the flag for the individual call. The service identification flag 1 corresponds to a flag for the information service. This service flag is used in the message processing section 4.

The message storage unit 6 stores the received message in a storage place corresponding to the ID number. 4 shows a storage place of the message storage unit 6.

Referring to Fig. 4, the message for the individual call identified with ID0320004 is stored in the first storage place. The message for the weather forecast (information service) identified by ID0001000 is stored in the second storage place. The message for the movie information (information service) identified by ID0025008 is stored in the third storage place. The message for transaction information (information service) identified by ID0020000 is stored in the fourth storage place. The message for the exchange rate information (information service) identified by ID0030008 is stored in the sixth storage place.

The message processing unit 4 executes processing for storing and displaying the received message. The message processing unit 4 stores the message from the decoder unit 3 into a storage place of the message storage unit 6 corresponding to the message ID number. The message processing section 4 also compares the provided ID number with the ID number stored in the ID storage section 5, and then reads out the service identification flag corresponding to the concurrently generated ID number. The message processing unit 4 then drives the display device driver 14-1 or 14-2 corresponding to this service identification flag to display the received message on the display device 5.

In this embodiment, the pager includes display device drivers 14-1 and 14-2 to execute the two display methods. The display device driver 14-1 is driven when the service identification flag is 0, and the display device driver 14-2 is driven when the service identification flag is 1.

Next, the operation of the pager having the above configuration will be described.

5 is a flowchart for explaining a series of receiving operations.

First, the decoder unit 3 checks the ID number of the call signal with the magnetic address stored in the ID memory unit 5 in the standby state (step 61). If a match is obtained in the matching step (step 62), the message receiving process is performed (step 63).

In this embodiment, determination of completion of the message depends on detection of another ID or idle signal (step 64). If another ID or idle signal is received, the message storage unit 6 stores the received signal (step 65). After the message reception process is completed, the notification unit 8 operates to drive the loudspeaker 9 for call notification.

Next, if the reception ID number (address) corresponds to the individual paging service, the display device driver A 14-1 is selected (step 67). If the received ID number (address) corresponds to the information service, the display device driver B 14-2 is selected (step 67). In order to perform the selection operation, the message processing section 4 sets the switch SW2. That is, if the service identification flag is 0, the display device driver 14-1 is selected (step 68). If the service identification flag is 1, the display device driver 14-2 is selected (step 72).

Next, an example of displaying a received message will be described with reference to FIG. 6. 6 shows an example in which the message Please call office 549-3811. Is received at 10:20 a.m. at the first address (individual call service). The display device displays 20 characters for each line. The received message is displayed with the reception time (displayed on the sub display line). In this case, the service type is an individual calling service, and the display device driver B manually scrolls the message up or down by one word.

In the present embodiment, the display device shows a first screen in which each word is not cut off at its center portion. Whether the sentence is a complete word or a truncated word is determined by the spacing between the words. For example, since the sentence Please call back to home! Includes the interval between Please and call, Please and call are each judged as 1 word. In this example, home is treated as one word. If the switch 10 is operated manually, successive message lines are displayed on the next screen.

7 shows Weather Information *** Tokyo fine, Shizuoka cloudy, Nagoya rain,... At the second address (information service). Shows an example received at 9:00 a.m. In this example, the display driver B is selected because the service type is an information service. This display driver B automatically scrolls in word units.

As described above, the message display driving method is selected according to the type of reception service. As a result, the message may be displayed in a manner suitable for the type of service. In this way, an inexpensive selective call receiver can be supplied.

In the above example, the display method is selected according to the service type. However, it is apparent that selecting the display mode is basically the same as storing the display method type with the ID in the ID storage unit. In the modified embodiment, instead of scrolling for each word, it is possible to scroll for each dot, and provides the same functions and effects as the above embodiment.

The pager system used in the present embodiment and the modified embodiment includes a display unit for displaying one line for each screen. The display mode is selected according to whether the received message is for a private call or for an information service. If the received message is for information service, the display device driver for scroll display is selected.

In the present invention, the display method is automatically selected according to the personal call or the information service. Therefore, even if a display device capable of displaying only one line on each screen is provided in the pager system, a readable message can be provided. Devices suitable for both individual calling and information services can be implemented at low manufacturing costs. In the present invention, since the display mode is automatically selected according to an individual call or a received message for the information service, a readout message suitable for the service type can be displayed even on a one-line display device, and a pager having good system operation is provided.

The entirety of Japanese Patent Application No. 290291/1996, filed Oct. 31, 1996, including the specification, claims, drawings and abstract is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Claims (16)

A selective call receiver for receiving messages of multiple call numbers, Collation means for collating the call number of the received message with the indication type, and Message display means for displaying a message based on the method of displaying the collated display type Selective call receiver comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the matching means, Call number storage means for storing a call number and information indicating a message display type of the call number so as to be correlated with each other, and Sub-collation means for matching a received call number with a call number stored in the call number storage means, and then supplying the message display means with a display type corresponding to a concurrent call number. Selective call receiver comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the message display means, A plurality of display control means arranged for each display type to control the display of the received message based on the display type display method; Display means for displaying a message under the control of the plurality of display control means, and Means for supplying a received message to a display control means corresponding to a display type supplied from said auxiliary means; Selective call receiver comprising a. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising message storing means for storing a received message in a storage place of a corresponding call number, wherein said message storing means has a message storing place for each call number. Select call receiver. 2. The selective call receiver of claim 1, further comprising notification means for informing that a message has been received. A selective call receiver for receiving a message of multiple call numbers, Call number storage means for storing a call number and information indicating a message display type of the call number so as to be correlated with each other; A message storage means having a message storage place for each call number, for storing a received message in a storage place of a call number corresponding thereto; A plurality of display control means arranged for each display type to control the display of the received message based on the display type display method; Display means for displaying a message under the control of the plurality of display control means, and Matching the received call number with the call number stored in the call number storage means, and then when the received call number matches the stored call number while the received message of the call number is stored in the message storage means; Outputs a call number and display type information corresponding to the call number, reads a message corresponding to the call number from the message storage means based on the call number and the display type information, and displays the read message Matching means for outputting to said display control means corresponding to type information Selective call receiver comprising a. 7. The selective call receiver according to claim 6, further comprising notification means for notifying that a message has been received. Storage means for storing the received message, Display means for displaying the stored message; First display control means for displaying the message of the first kind call number on the display means when a message of the first kind call number is received, and Second display control means for displaying the message of the second type call number on the display means when a message of the second type call number is received; Select call receiver comprising a. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first display control means comprises a control means for scrolling the message by character and the second display control means includes control means for scrolling the message by word. Selective call receiver characterized. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first display control means comprises a control means for scrolling the message by one character, and the second display control means includes control means for scrolling the message in dots. Selective call receiver characterized. 9. The selective call receiver according to claim 8, further comprising automatic display selecting means for selecting an indication as an individual call or an information service according to the received message. A message display method in a selective call receiver for receiving messages of multiple call numbers, the method comprising: Storing a display type indicating a message display method for each call number; Retrieving the display type of the co-occurrence indication type by comparing the stored call number with the call number of the received message, and And displaying the received message based on the retrieved display type display method. The method of claim 12, comprising: establishing a message that is a separate paging message or an information message, Previously storing a call number assigned to the personal call message and a call number assigned to the information message, and comparing a received call number with the stored call number to identify whether the received message is an individual call message or an information message; and Displaying the identified message using the display method Message display method further comprises. The method of claim 12, wherein the message display method is a method of scrolling a message one character at a time. The method of claim 12, wherein the message display method is a method of scrolling a message one word at a time. The method of claim 12, wherein the message display method is a method of scrolling a message in units of dots.