Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. visible personal calling systems or remote indication of seats occupied
  • G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. visible personal calling systems or 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
  • G08B5/227—Paging receivers with visible signalling details with call or message storage means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to unilateral radio paging receivers.
• known receivers of this type store radio messages in chronological order of reception, and play them back in the same order or in reverse order when the user of the receiver consults the messages received.
• This type of processing of received radio messages is well suited for relatively few messages which call for an immediate reaction from the receiver user, but it is not suitable for processing general information messages which represent a large volume of data (for example, sports, weather, financial, or other information).
• the invention relates to a unilateral radio paging receiver, comprising: - reception means for receiving radio messages, an electronic central unit associated with at least one memory for processing and storing received radio messages, - an interface control to allow a user to control the central unit, and a screen for displaying information resulting from the messages received, according to instructions received from the user via the command interface, the memory comprising a tree database comprising a plurality of menu pages and text pages, the menu pages comprising at least one main menu page which is displayed on the screen by the central unit at the start of each consultation of the data by the user, and each menu page comprising at least one item selectable by the user using the command interface to display another menu page or a text page on the screen.
• the object of the present invention is in particular to overcome this drawback.
• a radio paging receiver of the kind in question is essentially characterized in that each menu page and each text page has an identification code, in that each section of each page of menu comprises on the one hand a displayable data field, and on the other hand a call code corresponding to the identification code of another menu page or of a text page, and in that the unit central unit is designed for: recognize at least certain radio messages, known as menu update messages, comprising a menu page identification code and at least one item intended to appear in the menu page (already existing or new) which presents this code 'identification, this item including said displayable data field and said call code, and update the memory according to the information contained in said menu update messages.
• menu update messages comprising a menu page identification code and at least one item intended to appear in the menu page (already existing or new) which presents this code 'identification, this item including said displayable data field and said call code
• the menu pages memorized by the receiver are easily modifiable thanks to the menu update messages, which makes it possible to modify at will the structure of the tree database, according to new general information. transmitted to the receiver.
• each menu update message comprises a complete menu page
• the central unit is designed for: if the menu page identification code contained in said menu update message corresponds to a menu page previously stored in the receiver's memory, memorizing the menu page transmitted in said menu update message in place of said previously stored menu page, and if not, storing the menu page transmitted in said menu update message as a new menu page
• each menu page is subdivided into fields and each menu update message includes at least one modified field as well as data for locating this modified field, the central unit 11 being designed to: if the menu page identification code contained in said menu update message corresponds to a menu page previously stored in the memory 14 of the receiver, memorize only said modified field while keeping the other fields of the menu page in memory 14, and if not, storing the menu page transmitted in said menu update message as a new menu page
• the central processing unit is designed to implement a database cleaning process consisting in: determining whether the memory contains
• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a unilateral paging receiver according to an embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a partial block diagram of the receiver of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 1 represents a portable receiver 1 for unilateral paging adapted to receive, for example, radio messages coded according to the European standard
• This receiver 1 is in the form of a light autonomous box provided with a screen 2 and a simplified keyboard 3 comprising for example four keys, namely: a key 4 allowing access to special functions, two scroll keys 5 used to move a cursor on screen 2 and / or to select specific areas of said screen, called "icons", and a validation key 6 used to validate the selections made on the screen using the keys 5.
• a key 4 allowing access to special functions
• two scroll keys 5 used to move a cursor on screen 2 and / or to select specific areas of said screen, called "icons”
• a validation key 6 used to validate the selections made on the screen using the keys 5.
• FIG. 2 shows a partial block diagram of the receiver 1, which conventionally comprises: an antenna 7 for receiving radio messages, - a reception device 8 including in particular an amplifier 9 receiving the signals picked up by the an- terminal 7, and a demodulator 10 receiving the signals amplified by the amplifier 9, a central unit 11 which receives the demodulated signals at the output of the demodulator 10, this central unit comprising a microcontroller or microprocessor 12 connected to a clock 13 and to at least one memory 14 (the clock and the memory possibly being physically included or not in the central unit 11), and the microprocessor 12 being connected to the screen 2, to the keyboard 3, as well as to signaling means capable of attracting the attention of a user, for example an electronic buzzer 15 and / or a vibrator 16.
• a central unit 11 which receives the demodulated signals at the output of the demodulator 10
• this central unit comprising a microcontroller or microprocessor 12 connected to a clock 13 and to at least one memory 14 (the clock and the memory possibly being physically included or not in the central
• the microprocessor 12 can also be connected to a card reader (not shown) adapted to communicate with a portable memory card, for example for: operating the central unit 12 according to a program memorized by the card, or for authorizing or not certain operating modes of the receiver 1 as a function of validity data (number of units representative of a certain amount of money paid in advance or deadline for subscription), as taught in the French patent application No. 97 02856 filed March 11, 1997, or to identify the user of the receiver, as taught in document WO 96/31851.
• a card reader not shown
• a portable memory card for example for: operating the central unit 12 according to a program memorized by the card, or for authorizing or not certain operating modes of the receiver 1 as a function of validity data (number of units representative of a certain amount of money paid in advance or deadline for subscription), as taught in the French patent application No. 97 02856 filed March 11, 1997, or to identify the user of the receiver, as taught in document WO 96/31851.
• the memory 14 of the receiver comprises a tree database which includes a plurality of menu pages and text pages.
• Each text page comprises, on the one hand, an identification code, for example a two-digit code, and on the other hand, a text that can be displayed on the screen 2.
• each menu page comprises: an identification code, for example a two-digit code, a displayable alphanumeric title, and a plurality of selectable headings, each comprising, on the one hand, a data field displayable on the screen 2, and on the other hand, a call code corresponding to the identification code of another menu page or a text page.
• One of the menu pages is systematically displayed on screen 2 at the start of each consultation of data by the user.
• main menu page of receiver 1 could be called "Main menu”, carry the identification code 00, and contain the following headings:
• the reception of data by the receiver 1 which has just been described operates as follows.
• the microprocessor 12 When the receiver 1 receives a message personally intended for the user of the said receiver, the microprocessor 12 recognizes in this message an identification code which is specific to the receiver 1, and it stores this message in the memory 14 by simultaneously actuating the buzzer 15 and / or vibrator 16, so that the user is warned of the arrival of a message concerning him.
• This user can then consult this message on the screen 11, then if necessary erase it from the memory 14.
• the microprocessor 12 recognizes this message. by an identification field or an address contained in said message.
• the microprocessor 12 operates neither the buzzer 24 nor the vibrator 25, but on the contrary is content to store the information thus received in the memory 14.
• These general information messages can be text update messages, containing for example a full text page, with its identification code and its displayable text.
• the microprocessor 12 stores the text page thus received "at the place "of said previously stored text page (which means that the old text page is erased physically or virtually in memory 14, and that the text page thus received is in turn stored in said memory). If, on the contrary, the text page thus received has an identification code which does not correspond to any other previously stored text page, it is simply stored as a new text page.
• the general information messages received can also be menu update messages, which for example include a complete menu page, with its identification code, its title and its various headings, each comprising a field of displayable data and a call code.
• menu update messages for example include a complete menu page, with its identification code, its title and its various headings, each comprising a field of displayable data and a call code.
• the microprocessor 12 stores the menu page thus received in place of said previously stored menu range (which means, as for updating text pages, that the old menu page is erased physically or virtually in memory 14, and that the menu page received is in turn stored in said memory).
• the identification code of menu pages contained in the menu update message does not correspond to any menu page previously stored in memory 14, the menu page thus transmitted is stored in memory in as a new menu page.
• the microprocessor 12 searches whether there are pages 14 in the memory. text or menu pages, other than the main menu page, whose identification code does not appear as a call code in the headings of any menu page.
• the microprocessor 12 deletes this page of menu or unnecessary text (by erasing it physically or virtually in memory 14), and repeats the process until there are no more pages unnecessary text or menu items in memory 14.
• the code menu page 10 is stored in memory 14 in place of the old page having the identification code 10, and the two text pages 18 and 19 are stored as new pages.

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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)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=9513169

Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (12)

• 1997
  • 1997-11-07 FR FR9714037A patent/FR2770957B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-11-05 DE DE69829871T patent/DE69829871T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-11-05 WO PCT/FR1998/002365 patent/WO1999025134A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1998-11-05 US US09/530,726 patent/US6765475B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-11-05 EP EP98954521A patent/EP1027809B8/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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