WO1993023929A1

WO1993023929A1 - Selective call receiver with quick access to a non-intrusive message

Info

Publication number: WO1993023929A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/003819
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dean Paul Vanden Heuvel; Craig Halley
Original assignee: Motorola, Inc.
Priority date: 1992-05-08
Filing date: 1993-04-23
Publication date: 1993-11-25

Abstract

A selective call receiver (30) includes a receiver (34) for receiving selective call messages. The selective call messages include first and second types of messages. A memory (44) stores the selective call message. A microprocessor (36), including a controller (52), along with user input controls (40) allow a user to navigate through the memory means to locate a desired portion of the first type of selective call messages. A display (42) is used to display the desired portion. The microprocessor (36) is capable of processing a new selective call message without interrupting the navigation of the controller (52) or the displaying of the desired screen. Furthermore, the microprocessor (36) allows the user to quickly access one of the second type of selective call messages and quick return to the desired portion without having to renavigate to the desired portion.

Description

SELECTIVE CALL RECEIVER WITH QUICK ACCESS TO A NON- INTRUSIVE MESSAGE

Technical Field

This invention relates in general to selective call receivers, and in particular to selective call receivers for receiving information services.

Background

Selective call receivers are radio frequency receivers which selectively receive messages. Conventionally, a selective call receiver examines a selective call signal to determine whether the receiver has been addressed. When an address assigned to the receiver is detected, the selective call receiver decodes a selective call message. The user is alerted that a message has been received and the message can thereafter be presented, either as a voice message or a numeric or alphanumeric displayed message. The message may be displayed on a conventional display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). It is desirable that selective call receivers be portable and, consequently, most selective call receivers have LCD's of limited size. Additionally, most selective call receivers have limited room for user input controls.

More recently, users of selective call receivers desire additional features, such as reception of information services, while maintaining the desire for small portable receivers. Information services are services which provide regularly updated database messages, such as news services (UPI), financial services (Dow Jones Stock Reports), or sports services. One such information services selective call system is described in United States Patent No. 4,845,491. A user can subscribe to several information services and receive information on many topics. Each topic may consist of several screens (i.e. information capable of being displayed on the LCD at one time). To view a screen of information, the user manipulates the limited number of user input controls to reach the screen. This manipulation could consist of numerous activations of user controls. A problem with these numerous activation arises when a personal message is received. Departure from the in the loss of the information screen which was the result of extensive navigation. Returning to the information screen requires the same navigational steps, which is time intensive.

It can be seen that a need exists for a selective call receiver that would allow a user to receive and review personal messages while reviewing information messages and without having to relocate the information screen through the extensive navigation hierarchy.

Summary of the Invention Briefly, according to the invention, a selective call receiver is provided including means for receiving selective call messages. The selective call messages include first and second types of messages. A memory means is provided for storing the selective call messages. Also included in the selective call receiver is a control means for navigating through the memory means to locate a desired portion of the first type of selective call messages. A display means displays the desired portion. A quick access means allows quick access to one of the second type of selective call messages and quick return to the desired portion without having to renavigate to the desired portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a selective call system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.2 is a planar view of the information services pager of FIG. 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a planar view of the information services pager of FIG. 2 wherein a function menu overlays a screen of displayed information in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 and 5 are flow charts of the operation of the information services pager of FIG. 2 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1 , a selective call system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention transmits two types of signals: information services signals and personal message signals. As is well known to those skilled in the art, an originator of a personal selective call message inputs message information via a telephone input 10 to a paging terminal 12. The paging terminal 12 comprises an encoder 14 for encoding the message information into selective call signals and a transmitter 16 for broadcasting the selective call signals via an antenna 18. Information services signals are derived from information services 20 which compile financial, sports, news, etc. information and forward the information to a data center 22. The data center 22 compiles the information provided by the information services 20 into appropriate messages which are provided through a paging terminal 12' for transmission as selective call signals therefrom. The paging terminal 12' similarly comprises an encoder 14', a transmitter 16', and an antenna 18'.

Thus, a selective call system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention broadcast signals comprising personal message selective call messages and information services selective call messages for reception by a receiver 30. The receiver 30 receives the selective call signals at the antenna 32 which generates electrical signals in response to the radio frequency information received and forwards the signals to receiver circuitry 34 for demodulation. The demodulated signal is provided to a microprocessor 36 for processing thereby, the microprocessor 36 is coupled to an alert device 38, via an alert handler 37. Also coupled to the microprocessor 36 are user input controls 40, and a display 42 for interfacing with a user of the selective call receiver 30. Additionally, the microprocessor 36 is coupled to an external random access memory (RAM) 44 for storing information therein and for retrieving information therefrom. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the external RAM 44 has designated areas for storing personal messages 46 and for storing information services databases 48. The databases are stored in a portion 48 of the external RAM 44 in a manner which allows a user to access the information services data stored therein. In addition, personal messages are stored in the personal messages section 46 in a manner which allows the user to continue with operation already in progress without interruption. The management of the two sections of the external memory 44 is handled by a memory manager 60.

When a selective call signal is received and demodulated by the receiver circuitry 34, an address detection block 50 of the microprocessor 36 examines the selective call signal to determine if an address assigned to the selective call receiver 30 is present within the signal. When an address assigned to the selective call receiver 30 is detected by the address detection block 50, a controller 52 is signaled to start a decoder block 54 decoding the received and demodulated selective call signal. The decoded signal is provided from the decoder block 54 to the controller 52 for processing thereby. The controller 52 through memory manager 60 stores the decoded selective call message in the appropriate portion 46, or 48 of the external RAM 44 in accordance with the contents of the selective call message. Database messages are stored in the database memory section 48 in a number of screens. In other words, database messages include information that go beyond the area of the display 42 and are sorted in screens allowing the user to view the entire content of the database selective call message. It is understood that messages may be received at the receiver 30 having a plurality of screens. Alternatively, messages may be received as a single file and then partitioned in several screens by the microprocessor 36.

Similarly, personal messages may be stored in the personal messages memory section 46 in screens. Messages stored in the external RAM 44 are retrieved by the user upon manipulation of the user input control 40. Upon such manipulation the controller 52 provides the decoded selective call message to a display driver 56 for generation of a user readable display upon the display 42. A clock 58 is coupled to the controller 52 to provide conventional clocking functions allowing for proper operation of the controller 52 and the microprocessor 36.

The selective call receiver 30 operates in two modes in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention: a personal message mode, and a database mode. When operating in the personal message mode, the selective call receiver 30 can function as a conventional pager whereby the user can manipulate the user input controls 40 to select and read various personal messages stored in the personal message portion 48 of the RAM 44. During database mode operation, the user can manipulate the user input controls 40 to select and read various screens of the databases stored in the database portion 46 of the RAM 44.

In accordance with the present invention, a personal message received while the user is working with database message screens causes the controller 52 to store the received personal message in the personal message section 46 and send an alert to the alert device 38 without interrupting the display of the database screen. Upon completion of the present task, the user has the option to quickly access the newly received personal message or continue reviewing the information services screens. The controller 52 along with other elements of the microprocessor 36 provide the manipulation of information services screens and the display of personal messages.

Referring next to FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the multi-function selective call receiver 30 of FIG. 1 is depicted. The user input controls 40 (FIG. 1) comprises a plurality of user activatable keys 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e, 40f, and 40g. The alert device 38 is a visual indicator such as an icon on the display 42 or a light emitting diode (LED) for alerting the user of the receiver 30. An audible enunciator could also be mounted just inside the housing of the receiver 30 to operate in conjunction with or in place of the LED 38 for alerting the user.

On the display 42 of FIG. 2, a typical database screen showing date information, time information, and financial stock information is shown. Upon activation of the function key 40b, the bottom line of the four line display 42 is overwritten, as shown in FIG. 3, with a function menu 70 showing a plurality of icons, each of the plurality of icons identifying a particular function. The left/right cursor keys 40e, 40f allow the user to scroll among the various functions of the function menu 70 and to select one of the icons therein. Upon selection of the proper icon e.g., 70, the user depresses the function key 40b to activate that function.

Referring to FIG. 4, a flowchart 400 is shown of the operation of the selective call receiver 30 in accordance with the present invention is shown. Initially, operation of the selective call receiver 30 (FIG. 2) is in the database operation mode wherein a database status display is active 300. User input 302 initiates subsequent action. For example, the user may press a function key 40b and a menu of functions similar to that shown as menu 70 in FIG. 3 will be presented, block 304. Activation of the down cursor key 40d or the read key 40a from the database status display 300 will allow the user to navigate, block 306, to a desired database screen. The current screen is displayed, block 308, for user perusal until the desired ; reen has been located and displayed. From the condition block 310, the i -' jtion key 40b may be selected, block 312, to cause display of a database functions menu as shown in FIG. 3. If the user has selected an undesired database screen without the functions menu, the user may activate the side key 40g, from the condition block 310 to return to database status display, block 300. If, however, functions menu are displayed, FIG. 3, the side key 40g must be pressed twice. The first key press removes the functions menu, FIG. 2. The second key press returns to block 300. Another choice available to the user from the condition block 310 is the activation of the read key 40a. This actuation results in the condition block 314 where a decision is made as to whether quick access to a personal message is desired. The NO output of this condition block returns the operation to block 306 where the database is navigated to a desired screen. The YES output, implemented via read key 40a, calls a subroutine whose flow chart is shown in FIG. 5. Activation of any other key from the condition block 310 returns the operation to block 306.

While the database functions menu is displayed 312, the user may select any of the icons displayed by manipulation of the left and right cursor keys 40e, 40f and, when the appropriate icon is highlighted, activation of the function key 40b. From the functions menu, operation returns to display the current database screen 308.

Referring to FIG. 6, a flow chart 600 shows the operation of the selective call receiver 30 when a personal message is received in accordance with the present invention. This flow chart is treated as a subroutine that may be entered during the execution of any of the blocks of the flow chart 400. An incoming personal message, block 602, is stored in the RAM 44, via block 604. Following the storing of the message, an alert request is sent from the controller 52 to the alert handler 37 which subsequently sends an alert to the alert device 38. This operation is shown via block 606 followed by a return block 610. The return block 610 returns the operation to the point where the subroutine was entered.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a flow chart 500 of the operation of the quick access routine in accordance with the present invention is shown. Once again this flow chart may be entered at any point of the operation of the flow chart 400. For the purposes of this description, the flow chart 500 is called upon when the operation is displaying a current database screen, block 308. The actuation of the read button 40a calls the flow chart 500. The starting block 516 displays the first screen of the most recently received personal message. The selective call receiver 30 includes an automatic screen scroll feature which scrolls the screens of a message, personal or other wise, automatically without the interface of the user. To accommodate this feature and interface it with user input scrolls, an advance timer is used which is set after each of the screens are displayed 518. Block 520 allows the user to bypass the automatic screen scroll feature. Activation of the user input keys 40c and 40d allows user navigation of the screens of the personal message, bypassing the advance timer. A condition block 524 follows block 520. This condition block checks the expiration of the advance timer or the activation of a navigation key. In the latter, a condition block 526 monitors the activation of other key presses. One option available at this point is to freeze the screen for a period of time to better analyze the displayed information. This option is implemented via block 528 followed by the starting of a freeze timer 532. This freeze timer is used to limit the period of time a screen may be frozen. The operation returns to block 520 upon the expiration of this timer. Another option available at the condition block 526 is the return to functions menu, 530, for manipulation of the personal message. The manipulation of the message includes such actions as deleting a message, locking a message, reviewing other personal messages, etc. Block 536 examines if deletion of the screen is desired. The NO output returns to block 516 where the present screen of the personal message is once again displayed. The YES output returns the operation to the database screen last displayed via block 534. In this example the operation is returned to block 308.

Another condition available while at block 526 is the activation of the return key (40c or 40g). This activation causes the screen to immediately return to the original database screen, block 534. Indeed, it is noted that by pressing this button the operation returns to block 308. In other words, the quick access, as provided by the principles of the present invention, allows quick departure from one field of messages to another. The initiation of this quick access mode is provided by a single key press (40a) anytime during the navigation of the various data screens. If no personal messages are available in the memory, the activation of the read key 40a results in no action.

Returning back to block 524, the operation is coupled to a condition block 522 when the condition encountered is the expiration of the advance timer. At the condition block 522 a decision is made as to whether there are more screens to this message. This condition block is used for situations where the user does not want to continue with the remaining screens of the newly received personal message. The NO output of the condition block 522 is coupled to block 534 where the operation returns and displays the original database screen. The YES output of the condition block 522 is coupled to a block 514 where the display is advanced to the next screen. Coupled to block 514 is block 516 which displays a second screen of the personal message.

It can be seen that by using the flow chart 500, a quick access to a newly received personal message is possible without having to navigate back to the desired screen. This is significant as relocating a particular screen in a comprehensive information message may be very time consuming. It is now possible to retain one's location in the data base hierarchy and yet review a personal message. It is understood that the quick access mechanism as illustrated in the preferred embodiment may be applied to accessing any type of messages from any type of screen. In other words, the quick access is not limited to the database screens and may be applied to any other screens.

The quick access to a personal message from an information screen provides the user with a simple and clean method of accessing new information, without permanently disrupting the state of the selective call receiver or its display. The principles of the present invention implements a one-button message overlay operation, in which a single keystroke will present the user with a display of the most recently received personal message, regardless of the depth of navigation into the current database. The user is allowed to perform any message -related activity to the newly received personal message now being displayed. This includes the locking or deleting of the newly received message and also the viewing of any other personal messages. A second keystroke is used to quickly return the user to the last displayed screen. If no keys are entered by the user, the operation, once having gone through the screens of the message, will return to the last displayed screen of the data message.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A selective call receiver, comprising: means for receiving selective call messages, the selective call messages including a first type and a second type; memory means for storing the selective call messages; control means for navigating through the memory means to retrieve a desired screen of one of the first type of selective call messages; display means for displaying the desired screen; quick access means for allowing quick access to one of the second type of selective call messages and quick return to the desired screen without having to renavigate to the desired screen.

2. The selective call receiver of claim 1 , further comprising means for processing a new selective call message without interrupting the navigation of the control means or the displaying of the desired screen.

3. The selective call receiver of Claim 1 , further comprising user input means coupled to the control means for generating user signals in response to activation thereof and for providing the user signals to the control means.

4. The selective call receiver of Claim 1 , further comprising alerting means for selectively providing an alert signal to indicate the receipt of the new selective call message.

5. The selective call receiver of claim 4, wherein the alerting means includes a display character that is displayed on the display means without interrupting the display of the desired screens.

6. The selective call receiver of claim 4, wherein the alerting means includes a transducer.

7. A selective call receiver, comprising: receiver means for receiving selective call messages, including data messages and personal messages; first memory means for storing received data messages as a plurality of screens; second memory means for storing received personal messages; control means for user selectably navigating through the first memory means to locate a desired data message screen; display means for displaying the desired data message screen; and quick access means for quickly accessing a personal message screen and quickly returning to the desired data message screen without having to renavigate through the first or the second memory means.

8. The selective call receiver of Claim 7, further comprising means for processing a new selective call message without interrupting the display of the desired data message screen or the navigation of the control means.

9. The selective call receiver of Claim 7, further comprising user input means coupled to the quick access means for generating user signals in response to activation thereof and for providing the user signals to the quick access means.

10. The selective call receiver of claim 7, further including an alerting means for providing an alert signal when a new selective call message has been received.

11. The selective call receiver of claim 10, wherein the alerting means includes a transducer.

12. The selective call receiver of claim 10, wherein the alerting means includes a display character.

13. The selective call receiver of claim 7, further including means for manipulating the plurality of data messages screens and personal messages stored in the first and second memory means.

14. The selective call receiver of claim 13, wherein the means for manipulating includes locking a received personal message or at least one of the screens of a received data message.

15. The selective call receiver of claim 13, wherein the means for manipulating includes deleting a received personal message or at least one of the screens of a received data message.

16. The selective call receiver of claim 7, wherein the quick access means include timer means for automatically returning to the desired screen when no activity has been detected at the user input means for a predetermined period of time.

17. The selective call receiver of claim 7, wherein the control means includes means for selectably navigating through the second memory means to locate a desired personal message screen.

18. The selective call receiver of claim 7, wherein the quick access means includes means for quickly accessing a data message screen and quickly returning to the desired personal message screen without having to navigate through the second memory means.

19. A selective call receiver for facilitating presentation of a received selective call data message and a received selective call personal message, the selective call receiver comprising: a receiver for providing a received signal; a demodulator for recovering the received signal and providing, the received selective call data message and a received selective call personal message; a decoder for correlating a recovered address contained within Jhe received selective call data message and the received selective call personal message with a predetermined address recovered from a non-volatile memory associated with the selective call receiver, the predetermined address being the selective call receiver's address; a micro controller coupled to the decoder, the micro controller being capable of executing a micro code program for controlling operation of the selective call receiver and facilitating presentation of the received selective call data message and the received selective call personal message; memory means for storing the received selective call data message as a plurality of screens; means for managing the plurality of screens; user input means for navigating the plurality of screens of the received selective call data message to reach a desired screen; display means for displaying the desired screen; means for processing a new selective call message without interrupting the display of the desired screen or the navigation of the plurality of screens; quick access means for quickly accessing a selective call personal message while allowing direct return to the display of the desired screen; and means for alerting the user of the receipt of a newly received selective calf personal message without interrupting the display of the desired screen or the navigation of the plurality of screens.

20. The selective call receiver of claim 19, wherein the user input means includes a plurality of scroll keys.