WO1991011889A1 - Ordinateur equipe d'un dispositif de recherche de personne - Google Patents

Ordinateur equipe d'un dispositif de recherche de personne Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1991011889A1
WO1991011889A1 PCT/US1991/000731 US9100731W WO9111889A1 WO 1991011889 A1 WO1991011889 A1 WO 1991011889A1 US 9100731 W US9100731 W US 9100731W WO 9111889 A1 WO9111889 A1 WO 9111889A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
paging
personal computer
messages
computer
message
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1991/000731
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Garold B. Gaskill
Original Assignee
At&E Corporation
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 At&E Corporation filed Critical At&E Corporation
Publication of WO1991011889A1 publication Critical patent/WO1991011889A1/fr

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Classifications

    • 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
    • G08B5/228—Paging receivers with visible signalling details combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to radio paging systems, and more particularly to the combination of such paging systems with personal computers.
  • Radio paging systems are also important and widely used systems in our society.
  • a radio paging system is a specialized type of communication system which is designed to alert an individual that someone is seeking to contact them. Such systems are relatively low cost and they generally communicate short messages in only one direction with no automatic acknowledgement capability.
  • An example of a radio paging system is shown in U.S. Patent 4,713,808 (Gaskill) which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
  • the capabilities of traditional personal computers and traditional radio pagers have not heretofore been exploited in tandem.
  • the present invention advantageously couples these two technologies and in so doing, provides a number of important features not previously achieved in either the personal paging or computer arts.
  • a personal computer (either desktop, laptop, or notebook) is provided with a paging receiver.
  • the pager enhances the computer's general purpose utility by providing it with a means of receiving short messages without unduly burdening the computer with overhead housekeeping operations.
  • the computer likewise enhances the pagers utility by providing a means for displaying paging messages on the screen where an operator will readily see them and by providing logging and acknowledgement capability.
  • the combined system can provide new features, such as audit trails, multi-address paging reception, and dial-up feedback to the originating paging system, that have previously been unknown in the personal paging art.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a paging system employing a pager equipped computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. IA is a diagram of one of the printed circuit plug in cards in the personal computer shown in Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a paging receiver used in the pager equipped computer of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the pager equipped computer of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating operation of interfacing software used in the pager equipped computer of Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 5 is a map of RAM memory used in the personal computer of Fig. 1.
  • the illustrated paging system 10 includes a clearinghouse 12, a plurality of transmitter stations 14, a plurality of wristwatch paging receivers 16, and one or more pager/computers 18.
  • the clearinghouse 12 is a automated centralized facility which accepts telephone messages, validates customer identification, determines message destinations, and routes messages to the appropriate transmitter stations for transmission. Callers to the system dial a local clearinghouse telephone number and hear voice prompts which guide them through a simple process for sending messages.
  • Each transmitter station 14 in the illustrated embodiment is an FM radio station that modulates paging signals on a subcarrier of its broadcast signal, as detailed in the above-referenced Gaskill patents.
  • the paging receivers 16 are wrist mounted devices which include radio paging circuitry in a case which has a wristwatch form factor.
  • An important aspect of a paging system is that the paging receiver should be located so that the display can be viewed easily and often. Locating the paging message display in a wristwatch and in the screen of a prsonal computer satisfies this requirement.
  • Each pager/computer 18 comprises a conventional personal computer 20, which has a special card plugged into its bus.
  • the additional card 22A is shown in Figure IA.
  • Card 22A has a series of contacts 22C which fit into a standard PC bus slot and a standard holding bracket 22D.
  • Card 22A has mounted thereon a paging receiver of the type described in the above reference patent application.
  • Standard interface circuity 24 connects circuit 22 to the appropriate power and data interface pins in connector 22C and provides the other standard interface circuitry needed by a PC plug in card.
  • Paging receiver 22 receives radio signals over an antenna 23 which extends outside the PC's metal case.
  • Personal computers 20 are well known in the art and are available from a variety of vendors, including IBM, Apple and Compaq.
  • the computer 20 in Fig. 1 is illustrated with an associated screen display 28 that includes a window 30 in which paging messages may be presented.
  • a personal computer is a fundamentally different device than what is often termed a microprocessor.
  • a personal computer generally includes a microprocessor, but a personal computer is a device that includes in addition to a microprocessor, a memory system, I/O for alphanumeric textual material, and an operating system for handling alphanumeric textual material and commands.
  • paging receiver 22 is highly miniaturized and it could be mounted directly to the rear panel of the computer rather than being mounted on a separate card.
  • the only evidence that the computer 12 includes a pager would be a small antenna 23 extending therefrom.
  • the paging receiver 22 includes a small microprocessor 32 to implement the pager's repertoire of functions. In the present embodiment processor 32 is dedicated to control of the pager circuitry.
  • Interfacing of the paging receiver 22 to the computer 20 is effected by a hardware interface 24, which is recognized and controlled by an associated software routine 26 (Fig. 5) .
  • the hardware interface can be one of two types. In the first type, the interface connects the paging receiver directly to the system bus 36 of the personal computer. Such an implementation is desirable if the paging receiver is included as an integral part of the computer, rather than as a peripheral. In the second type, (not shown) the interface connects the paging receiver to one of the computer's external I/O ports. Interface through an external I/O port eliminates the need for any dedicated interfacing hardware. Rather, the interfacing hardware is the computer's own I/O card.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates, in flow chart fashion, an illustrative software interfacing routine 26 that may be executed on the computer 20 to interface the paging receiver 22.
  • Routine 26 is an interrupt service routine that is invoked by the computer's processor 34 in response to an interrupt request signal issued by the pager to the computer's I/O port 24.
  • the pager can issue an interrupt request signal in response to a number of events, most usually the receipt of a paging message.
  • the computer processor 34 saves its current machine state and associated pointers in registers and executes the routine 26.
  • the illustrated interrupt routine 26 once invoked, causes the computer's processor to read an instruction word (4-bits) provided to the I/O port by the pager.
  • This instruction word is composed by the pager microprocessor in accordance with the operation it wants the computer's processor to perform, as detailed more fully below.
  • the routine 26 examines this instruction word and serially compares it against its sixteen possible values. When a match is found, the computer processor 34 has identified what function has been requested and invokes a corresponding one of a plurality of service routines A, B, C, etc.
  • service routines A, B, C, etc. depend on the desired functionality of the pager- equipped computer.
  • the following discussion details a few illustrative functions.
  • the pager can invoke the large data storage capacity of the computer to compile a historical audit trail of all paging messages directed to one (or more) paging addresses.
  • this function is invoked by the pager issuing an interrupt request to the computer and providing the instruction word '0001' to the I/O port each time a new message is received by the pager.
  • the pager already has the capability to energize a "message waiting" annunciator on its display when a message is received, and the signal driving this annunciator can be provided to the least significant bit of the instruction word bits on the I/O port to yield the '0001' instruction word.
  • the computer processor can open a disk file containing a chronological compilation of all messages received to date and can provide back to the pager processor a signal instructing it to provide the newly received message, one ASCII character at a time, through the I/O port.
  • This data which may include a date and time tag, are added to the disk file.
  • the computer processor closes its disk file and resumes its normal operation.
  • the computer signals the response of a new message with a screen icon or a beep to the user.
  • the user may, at his convenience, review newly received messages, or may review earlier messages archived in the file.
  • Such a feature provides a backup capability in case the user's usual pager misses a page for any reason, and also provides an archival backup in case the contents or the existence of a page ever become an issue.
  • the pager can invoke the display capabilities of the computer to display messages as they are received.
  • Such a function is especially useful for long messages, which may be somewhat tedious to review word by word on a wristwatch pager's limited display.
  • This function is performed similarly to the audit trail function but, instead of writing the data to a disk file (or in addition thereto) , the computer, on command, presents a window on the computer screen and displays the text in the window.
  • the presentation of a window on a display is well known in the computer arts and is illustrated, for example, in U.S.
  • a line at the bottom of the screen is dedicated at all times to display of the most recent message, and includes an indication of the total number of pages received in the past 24 hours.
  • the originating paging system 12 can be informed that a particular user has a computer available to display long messages. In such case, rather than having the user's wristwatch unit receive and store lengthy messages, the originating system can instead transmit the message with a datum that indicates the message is to be received and stored by the computer only. The system can send to the wristwatch pager a different message indicating that a lengthy message has been sent to the user's computer.
  • the computer may check to insure that no messages have been missed.
  • each message is sent with a consecutive message number.
  • the computer checks that the message number of each newly received message follows in sequence with the immediately preceding message. If the computer notes that message 4 is followed by message 6, it deduces that message 5 has been missed. In response to this determination, the computer presents an advisory notice to the user on the computer display.
  • the computer executes a communications program that telephones a paging control station 12 using an associated modem 42 and sends a scripted series of commands to the system into which the number of the missing page has been inserted.
  • This script causes the paging system to rebroadcast the missing message.
  • Such an embodiment thereby closes the loop between the paging system and the user, insuring high data integrity.
  • a modem is employed to selectively telephone the paging system and confirm receipt of a paging message.
  • Such a procedure while overwhelming if practiced generally, is instituted in response to a series of control bits included with the paging message indicating that the accompanying page is a special one that should be affirmatively acknowledged.
  • the pager equipped computer may be programmed to respond not to just one paging address, but to a plurality of individual addresses.
  • the associated personal computer logs or displays messages addressed to a group of users, such as members of a family or employees of a certain business, instead of just one.
  • a pager only accepts a message if there is a complete match on the entire 32 bit address.
  • a pager can be programmed to accept messages directed to an entire group of pagers.
  • the pager could be programmed to match a received address against a number of desired addresses and thereby accept messages addressed to anyone of a plurality of ID numbers.
  • the capability of receiving messages with more than one ID can be programmed in the pager itself, or it can be programmed in response to commands from the personal computer.
  • the pager can send all messages to the personal computer, and the personal computer can screen the messages and only select those with certain ID codes.
  • the recipient address decoding function is performed in the pager as described in the referenced patent.
  • the pager could send all messages that are received to the personal computer and the address decoding could be performed in the personal computer.
  • the shifting of this processing burden to the computer permits the monitored addresses to be easily modified or updated as users join or leave the group of interest. Irrespective of where the decoding is performed, the pager operation does require an address compare operation in order to make the pager addressable from the central facility.
  • the computer may monitor incoming messages for a special symbol that indicates that the associated message is not textual, but rather contains instructions that the computer is to use to control some other apparatus. For example, some computers are presently used to control home appliances, lighting, and heating/air conditioning equipment. The non-textual instructions may be decoded by the computer and cause it to turn on lights, turn down the heat, etc.
  • the interrupt routine and each of the above-described service routines may be in the form of terminate and stay resident programs (TSRs) loaded into the computer's RAM memory 44 when the computer is booted.
  • Fig. 5 is a map of the computer memory showing these programs.
  • the equipping of a computer with a paging receiver provides a number of communication and control capabilities that have not heretofore been available in either the computer or paging arts. Still further, the combination provides certain benefits beyond those of the communication and control type.
  • One such benefit is the availability of a highly accurate source of time data to the computer.
  • the Gaskill paging system transmits highly accurate time data to each of the paging receivers to synchronize their operation to that of the originating system 12. This data can be used advantageously in unrelated applications to which the computer may be put, including scientific measurement applications in which a precision clock is essential.

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

Abstract

Un ordinateur personnel amélioré (20) comprend une interface (24) pour un récepteur de poche (22) offrant ainsi entre autres avantages des possibilités de télécommunication et de télécommande jusqu'ici inexistantes dans les domaines soit de la recherche de personne soit de l'informatique.
PCT/US1991/000731 1990-02-02 1991-02-04 Ordinateur equipe d'un dispositif de recherche de personne WO1991011889A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US47379190A 1990-02-02 1990-02-02
US473,791 1990-02-02

Publications (1)

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WO1991011889A1 true WO1991011889A1 (fr) 1991-08-08

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AU (1) AU7255391A (fr)
WO (1) WO1991011889A1 (fr)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992015971A1 (fr) * 1991-03-04 1992-09-17 Motorola, Inc. Recepteur d'appel selectif ayant en memoire des messages definis par l'utilisateur et procedes de presentation desdits messages
US5281962A (en) * 1992-05-08 1994-01-25 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for automatic generation and notification of tag information corresponding to a received message
US5337044A (en) * 1991-10-08 1994-08-09 Nomadic Systems, Inc. System for remote computer control using message broadcasting system
EP0686296A4 (fr) * 1992-10-19 1995-08-11 Motorola Inc Recepteur de donnees d'une carte informatique a antenne repliable
WO1995018491A3 (fr) * 1993-12-29 1995-08-17 Novalink Technologies, Inc. Dispositif de transmission de donnees
EP0669072A1 (fr) * 1992-10-19 1995-08-30 Motorola, Inc. Recepteur d'appels selectifs a notification de messages par interface informatique
US5495234A (en) * 1993-01-21 1996-02-27 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for length dependent selective call message handling
WO1996027174A1 (fr) * 1995-02-25 1996-09-06 Accupage Limited Dispositif de securite
US5630224A (en) * 1994-12-29 1997-05-13 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for avoiding desensitization of a radio frequency receiver
EP0684742A3 (fr) * 1994-05-24 1998-11-04 Nec Corporation Récepteur d'appel sélectif
US5877699A (en) * 1992-06-05 1999-03-02 U.S. Philips Corporation Displaying data transmitted by radio
US6246335B1 (en) * 1993-12-28 2001-06-12 Nec Corporation Portable information equipment system and control method thereof

Citations (7)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3937004A (en) * 1973-05-28 1976-02-10 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Portable miniature type information treating device
US3976995A (en) * 1975-05-22 1976-08-24 Sanders Associates, Inc. Precessing display pager
US4383257A (en) * 1979-12-26 1983-05-10 Millicom Incorporated Message communication system with message storage
US4644351A (en) * 1984-05-08 1987-02-17 Motorola, Inc. Two way personal message system with extended coverage
US4750036A (en) * 1986-05-14 1988-06-07 Radio Telcom & Technology, Inc. Interactive television and data transmission system
US4806906A (en) * 1986-01-29 1989-02-21 Nec Corporation Data terminal
US4972457A (en) * 1989-01-19 1990-11-20 Spectrum Information Technologies, Inc. Portable hybrid communication system and methods

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3937004A (en) * 1973-05-28 1976-02-10 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Portable miniature type information treating device
US3976995A (en) * 1975-05-22 1976-08-24 Sanders Associates, Inc. Precessing display pager
US4383257A (en) * 1979-12-26 1983-05-10 Millicom Incorporated Message communication system with message storage
US4644351A (en) * 1984-05-08 1987-02-17 Motorola, Inc. Two way personal message system with extended coverage
US4806906A (en) * 1986-01-29 1989-02-21 Nec Corporation Data terminal
US4750036A (en) * 1986-05-14 1988-06-07 Radio Telcom & Technology, Inc. Interactive television and data transmission system
US4972457A (en) * 1989-01-19 1990-11-20 Spectrum Information Technologies, Inc. Portable hybrid communication system and methods

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992015971A1 (fr) * 1991-03-04 1992-09-17 Motorola, Inc. Recepteur d'appel selectif ayant en memoire des messages definis par l'utilisateur et procedes de presentation desdits messages
US5430439A (en) * 1991-03-04 1995-07-04 Motorola, Inc. Selective call receiver having user defined message information in memory and presentation methods thereof
US5337044A (en) * 1991-10-08 1994-08-09 Nomadic Systems, Inc. System for remote computer control using message broadcasting system
US5281962A (en) * 1992-05-08 1994-01-25 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for automatic generation and notification of tag information corresponding to a received message
US5877699A (en) * 1992-06-05 1999-03-02 U.S. Philips Corporation Displaying data transmitted by radio
EP0686296A1 (fr) * 1992-10-19 1995-12-13 Motorola, Inc. Recepteur de donnees d'une carte informatique a antenne repliable
EP0669072A1 (fr) * 1992-10-19 1995-08-30 Motorola, Inc. Recepteur d'appels selectifs a notification de messages par interface informatique
EP0669072A4 (fr) * 1992-10-19 1995-10-11
EP0686296A4 (fr) * 1992-10-19 1995-08-11 Motorola Inc Recepteur de donnees d'une carte informatique a antenne repliable
US5495234A (en) * 1993-01-21 1996-02-27 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for length dependent selective call message handling
US6246335B1 (en) * 1993-12-28 2001-06-12 Nec Corporation Portable information equipment system and control method thereof
CN1113550C (zh) * 1993-12-28 2003-07-02 日本电气株式会社 便携式信息设备系统及其控制方法
WO1995018491A3 (fr) * 1993-12-29 1995-08-17 Novalink Technologies, Inc. Dispositif de transmission de donnees
US5822692A (en) * 1993-12-29 1998-10-13 Flat Connections, Inc. Data communication device
EP0684742A3 (fr) * 1994-05-24 1998-11-04 Nec Corporation Récepteur d'appel sélectif
US5630224A (en) * 1994-12-29 1997-05-13 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for avoiding desensitization of a radio frequency receiver
WO1996027174A1 (fr) * 1995-02-25 1996-09-06 Accupage Limited Dispositif de securite
US6087937A (en) * 1995-02-25 2000-07-11 Accupage Limited Security device

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