USH1173H - Paging device with alternating alert outputs - Google Patents

Paging device with alternating alert outputs Download PDF

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Publication number
USH1173H
USH1173H US07/772,640 US77264091A USH1173H US H1173 H USH1173 H US H1173H US 77264091 A US77264091 A US 77264091A US H1173 H USH1173 H US H1173H
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
signal
alert
generating
address
modulating
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US07/772,640
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English (en)
Inventor
Walter L. Davis
George Drapac
Stephen H. Woltz
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
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Motorola Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motorola Inc filed Critical Motorola Inc
Priority to US07/772,640 priority Critical patent/USH1173H/en
Priority to JP4169157A priority patent/JPH05190867A/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of USH1173H publication Critical patent/USH1173H/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • G08B5/225—Display details

Definitions

  • Selective call radio receivers traditionally alert a user to an incoming message and may be categorized according to the types of alerts they generate. For example, tone only pagers simply emit a short audible alert tone to inform the user that he has received a message, but the pager does not actually convey the message to the user. After hearing the alert tone, the user typically calls a prearranged telephone number to receive the actual message. Tone and voice pagers include the necessary audio circuits and a small speaker to permit the user to hear a verbal message following the alert tone. Display pagers include a small alphanumeric character display by means of which a short message, such as a telephone number, may be displayed.
  • each such alerting device consumes battery power. It follows that combining several alerting devices in one pager and operating the several devices concurrently can rapidly discharge the battery. In fact, it can be shown that the activation of two such alerting devices simultaneously will have a more deleterious impact on battery performance than if the multiple alerting devices were activated sequentially (i.e. only one alerting device on at a time) or in a complementary manner (i.e. one alerting device on while another is off and vice versa).
  • an alert generating apparatus for use with a pager of a type which includes an address decoder for determining if an address in the received signal corresponds to an address assigned to and stored within the receiver.
  • First means is coupled to the address decoder for generating a first alert signal in accordance with a first predetermined pattern.
  • Second means are provided for generating a second alert signal in accordance with a second predetermined pattern which is complementary or at least subsequent to the first predetermined pattern.
  • the first alert signal may be an audible signal while the second alert signal may be visual.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a paging receiver utilizing alert generating apparatus
  • FIG. 3 is a logic diagram illustrating the alert envelope waveform generator shown in FIG. 2;
  • FIGS. 4A-D are waveforms illustrating four typical envelopes which may be generated by the alert envelope waveform generator shown in FIG. 2;
  • FIGS. 5A-C are waveforms illustrating how an alert activation signal can be modulated by the output of the alert envelope waveform generator of FIG. 2;
  • FIGS. 6A-H illustrate a plurality of complementary alert signals generated in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a selective call radio receiver (e.g., a pager) apparatus.
  • the system comprises a receiver 10 equipped with antenna 12, a bit synchronization circuit 14, a code word detector 16, a clock and timing generator 18, a decoding controller 20, and an alert and output signal generator 22.
  • a modulated signal (e.g., in a standard POCSAG signal and code format as defined by the British Post Office Code Standardization Advisory Group) is received at receiver 10 by means of antenna 12.
  • the output of receiver 10 is applied to a bit synchronization circuit 14 whose function it is to synchronize the bit decision circuit elements therein with the received signal bit stream.
  • bit synchronization circuit 14 When the apparatus is first turned on, it will attempt to achieve bit synchronization. If bit synchronization is established, bit synchronization circuit 14 will activate code word detector 16 which searches for a synchronization code word. That is, code word detector 16 compares the received bit stream with a synchronization code word sequence stored in memory.
  • Code word detector 16 functions as a bit-by-bit correlator, and if a received bit sequence differs from the synchronization code word sequence in less than a predetermined number of bit positions (e.g., three), the code word detector generates an indication to decoding controller 20 that a synchronization code word has been detected. Decoding controller 20 then switches the reference code word sequence to the address sequence of the pager, and code word detector 16 then searches for address code words. The error threshold may be reduced (e.g., lowered to two) when the code word detector 16 is searching for address code words. As will be described in more detail below, the code word detector 16 is capable of detecting as many as four different functions (Fl, F2, F3, and F4) associated with one address word.
  • a predetermined number of bit positions e.g., three
  • alert output signal generator 22 When an address function is detected by an address decoder in code word detector 16, one or more alert signals are generated by an alert output signal generator 22. As will be further described, a different alert pattern may be generated for each of the four functions associated with a single address. Furthermore, the alerts may be visual, audible, and/or tactile (vibratory).
  • Clock and timing generator 18 may include a crystal controlled clock oscillator and a timing chain driven by the oscillator.
  • Generator 18 provides all the timing signals required for the operation of the bit synchronization circuit 14, code word detector 16, alert and output signal generator 22, and decoding controller 20.
  • the timing signals into alert and output signal generator 22 determine the alert signal frequencies and durations.
  • decoding controller 20 controls the overall operation of bit synchronization circuit 14, code word detector 16, and alert and output signal generator 22 using timing signals from clock and timing generator 18.
  • Decoding controller 20 may be comprised of specific circuits or may in fact consist of a host microcomputer such as an MC146805H2 made available by Motorola, Inc.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an alerting apparatus for use in a selective call radio paging receiver which causes the alerting devices to be activated not simultaneously, but sequentially in a complementary fashion.
  • This is an audio alert signal which, after modulation in AND gate 30 and amplification in amplifier 32, will be applied to a speaker 34 for the purpose of generating an audible alert output.
  • Address decoder 42 monitors the input bit stream to determine if the address contained therein matches a stored address. If a match is detected, the first and second function bits in the POCSAG address code word are monitored to determine which function detect output (FI DET, F2 DET, F3 DET, F4 DET) to generate. Functions F1-F4 may be utilized to distinguish categories of callers on the basis of priority or some other criteria, or may be utilized to convey different types of messages.
  • alert envelope waveform generator 38 In response to receiving a function detect signal from address decoder 24, alert envelope waveform generator 38 produces at output 44 a specific envelope waveform which is applied it to a second input of AND gate 30.
  • the alert envelope waveforms corresponding to function detect signals F1-F4 are shown in FIGS. 4A-4D respectively. Obviously, different function detect waveforms may be employed.
  • a silent mode enable signal is applied to the input of an inverter 46 which has an output coupled to a third input of AND gate 30.
  • the output of inverter 46 will be high thus enabling AND gate 30. That is, the audio alert signal 28 appearing at the first input of AND gate 30 is modulated by the alert envelope waveform 44 appearing at the second input of AND gate 30.
  • the signal appearing at the output of AND gate 30 would be as is shown in FIG. 5C.
  • the signal appearing at the output of AND gate 30 is applied to amplifier 32 which acts as the source of an energizing signal. The amplifier 32 then drives the transducer 34 to provide an audible alert.
  • the alert envelope waveform output 44 is also applied to the input of inverter 48 which in turn has an output coupled to the input of amplifier 50.
  • Amplifier 50 produces an energizing signal at its output which activates lamp 52 for generating a visual alert output.
  • the audible alert output is generated in accordance with a predetermined pattern; i.e. the alert envelope waveform, while the visual alert output is generated in accordance with a pattern which is the complement of the alert envelope waveform. In this manner, the audible and visual alerts are not activated simultaneously, thus reducing peak loading on the battery.
  • a tactile or vibratory alert output may be generated as follows.
  • the output of inverter 48 is applied to the input of inverter 54 which in turn has an output coupled to a first input of AND gate 56.
  • the silent mode enable signal is applied to the second input of AND gate 56.
  • the output of AND gate 56 is coupled to an input of amplifier 58 which in turn is coupled to motor 60.
  • Motor 60 when activated by the energizing signal from amplifier 58, will generate a vibratory alert output. That is, if the silent mode enable signal is high, the output of inverter 46 is low thus disabling AND gate 30. In this case, there will be no audible alert generated by speaker 34. However, a visual alert output may still be generated.
  • the output of inverter 54 i.e. the alert envelope waveform
  • AND gate 56 the output of inverter 54
  • amplifier 58 the output of inverter 54
  • a tactile alert output will be generated during a period of time which is complementary to the time that the visual alert output is generated.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the alert envelope waveform generator 38 in more detail.
  • ROM 60 receives as inputs the outputs of a three-stage counter 62.
  • Counter 62 when not in a reset condition, counts pulses 36 which are generated by divider 26 in FIG. 2.
  • the time-out signal 40 also generated by divider 26 is applied to the set inputs of a flip-flop 64 having a Q output which is applied to the reset input of counter 62.
  • ROM 60 is provided with four outputs 66, 68, 70, and 72 at which the envelope waveforms corresponding to functions F1-F4 as is shown in FIGS. 4A-D are produced.
  • ROM outputs 66, 68, 70, and 72 are applied each to a first input of AND gates 74, 76, 78, and 80 respectively.
  • the second inputs of AND gates 74, 76, 78, and 80 are coupled to a corresponding function detect signal F1 DET, F2 DET, F3 DET, and F4 DET respectively.
  • the function detect signals are also applied to first, second, third, and fourth inputs of OR gate 82 which has an output coupled to the reset input (R) of flip-flop 64.
  • the outputs of AND gates 74, 76, 78, and 80 are applied to first, second, third, and fourth inputs respectively of OR gate 84, the output of which corresponds to the desired envelope waveform.
  • Each of the envelopes 66, 68, 70, and 72 shown in FIGS. 4A-D correspond to a specific pattern which may be, for example, one second in duration.
  • the time-out period may be, for example, ten seconds in length thus permitting the envelope pattern to repeat itself ten times.
  • the function detect signals are stored in address decoder 42.
  • time-out signal 40 resets that portion of address decoder 42 which stores the function detect signals F1-F4.
  • time-out signal 40 sets flip-flop 64 in FIG. 3 which in turn resets three-stage counter 62.
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are waveforms illustrating the audible and visual alert signals which are generated in response to a F1 DET decode.
  • the audible signal continues for approximately 7/8 of a second.
  • the visual signal is generated for 1/8 of a second. This is repeated until the time-out signal resets address counter 42 and counter 62. If the time-out period is ten seconds, the audible and visual alert patterns will repeat ten times.
  • the alert outputs could also be terminated by the activation of a reset switch in a manner that is well known in the art.
  • FIGS. 6C and 6D illustrate the complementary alert patterns corresponding to F2 DET
  • FIGS. 6E and 6F illustrate the complementary audible and visual alert patterns corresponding to F3 DET
  • FIGS. 6G and 6H illustrate the complementary audible and visual alert patterns corresponding to F4 DET.
  • the complementary alert patterns shown have the desirable feature that both the audible and visual alert envelopes convey readily discernible information about which address function has been received. That is, the function 1 alerts consist of one tone burst alternating with one flash of the lamp, the function 2 alerts consist of two tone bursts alternating with two lamp flashes, etc.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
US07/772,640 1989-02-03 1991-10-08 Paging device with alternating alert outputs Abandoned USH1173H (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/772,640 USH1173H (en) 1989-02-03 1991-10-08 Paging device with alternating alert outputs
JP4169157A JPH05190867A (ja) 1991-06-27 1992-06-26 フラッシュｅｅｐｒｏｍメモリセル

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US30617189A 1989-02-06 1989-02-06
US07/772,640 USH1173H (en) 1989-02-03 1991-10-08 Paging device with alternating alert outputs

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US30617189A Continuation 1989-02-03 1989-02-06

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USH1173H true USH1173H (en) 1993-04-06

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CA (1) CA2008254C (fr)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5394140A (en) * 1992-11-23 1995-02-28 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for pre-programmed call-back-number-determined alert
WO1996000429A1 (fr) * 1994-06-23 1996-01-04 Motorola Inc. Recepteur de recherche de personnes avec types distincts d'alerte
US5488351A (en) * 1993-08-02 1996-01-30 Motorola, Inc. Rocking vibrator alert apparatus driven by opposite phases of a frequency generator
US5504476A (en) * 1994-07-28 1996-04-02 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for generating alerts based upon content of messages received by a radio receiver
US5508695A (en) * 1994-07-28 1996-04-16 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for identifying messages associated with a sports team in a communication system
US5535428A (en) * 1994-07-28 1996-07-09 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for selectively retaining messages received by a radio receiver based upon message content
US5663717A (en) * 1994-08-01 1997-09-02 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for prioritizing message transmissions and alerts in a radio communication system
US5701588A (en) * 1993-11-30 1997-12-23 Nec Corporation Pictorial display apparatus for receivers for implementing the pictorial display
US5802455A (en) * 1995-12-19 1998-09-01 Nec Corporation Selective call receiver using typeface-based source identification
US6021433A (en) * 1996-01-26 2000-02-01 Wireless Internet, Inc. System and method for transmission of data
US6124801A (en) * 1996-04-23 2000-09-26 Nec Corporation Radio selective calling receiver and calling method
US6215979B1 (en) * 1997-08-28 2001-04-10 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Apparatus and method for generating alert in radio paging receiver
US7035914B1 (en) 1996-01-26 2006-04-25 Simpleair Holdings, Inc. System and method for transmission of data
US7046239B2 (en) * 2000-01-25 2006-05-16 Minolta Co., Ltd. Electronic apparatus

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4392135A (en) 1979-09-29 1983-07-05 Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. Paging receivers
GB2090450B (en) 1980-12-16 1983-08-03 Nippon Electric Co Electronic apparatus with audible annunciator and alarm lamp
GB2146153B (en) 1983-09-06 1987-06-03 Nec Corp Multiple-alert pager
US4755816A (en) 1986-10-29 1988-07-05 Motorola Inc. Battery saving method for a selective call radio paging receiver
US4876536A (en) 1987-10-12 1989-10-24 Nec Corporation Paging receiver with a light emitting element flashing circuit
US4918438A (en) 1986-05-30 1990-04-17 Nec Corporation Paging receiver having audible and vibrator annunciating means
US4935735A (en) 1985-01-31 1990-06-19 Motorola, Inc. Selective call radio receiver silent alert mode entry system
US4975693A (en) 1989-01-30 1990-12-04 Motorola, Inc. Programmable multi-address pager receiver and method of characterizing same

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4392135A (en) 1979-09-29 1983-07-05 Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. Paging receivers
GB2090450B (en) 1980-12-16 1983-08-03 Nippon Electric Co Electronic apparatus with audible annunciator and alarm lamp
GB2146153B (en) 1983-09-06 1987-06-03 Nec Corp Multiple-alert pager
US4935735A (en) 1985-01-31 1990-06-19 Motorola, Inc. Selective call radio receiver silent alert mode entry system
US4918438A (en) 1986-05-30 1990-04-17 Nec Corporation Paging receiver having audible and vibrator annunciating means
US4755816A (en) 1986-10-29 1988-07-05 Motorola Inc. Battery saving method for a selective call radio paging receiver
US4876536A (en) 1987-10-12 1989-10-24 Nec Corporation Paging receiver with a light emitting element flashing circuit
US4975693A (en) 1989-01-30 1990-12-04 Motorola, Inc. Programmable multi-address pager receiver and method of characterizing same

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5394140A (en) * 1992-11-23 1995-02-28 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for pre-programmed call-back-number-determined alert
US5488351A (en) * 1993-08-02 1996-01-30 Motorola, Inc. Rocking vibrator alert apparatus driven by opposite phases of a frequency generator
US5701588A (en) * 1993-11-30 1997-12-23 Nec Corporation Pictorial display apparatus for receivers for implementing the pictorial display
US6160489A (en) * 1994-06-23 2000-12-12 Motorola, Inc. Wireless communication device adapted to generate a plurality of distinctive tactile alert patterns
WO1996000429A1 (fr) * 1994-06-23 1996-01-04 Motorola Inc. Recepteur de recherche de personnes avec types distincts d'alerte
GB2296635A (en) * 1994-06-23 1996-07-03 Motorola Inc Paging receiver with distinctive alert patterns
GB2296635B (en) * 1994-06-23 1998-07-22 Motorola Inc Paging receiver with distinctive alert patterns
US5504476A (en) * 1994-07-28 1996-04-02 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for generating alerts based upon content of messages received by a radio receiver
US5508695A (en) * 1994-07-28 1996-04-16 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for identifying messages associated with a sports team in a communication system
US5535428A (en) * 1994-07-28 1996-07-09 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for selectively retaining messages received by a radio receiver based upon message content
US5663717A (en) * 1994-08-01 1997-09-02 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for prioritizing message transmissions and alerts in a radio communication system
US5802455A (en) * 1995-12-19 1998-09-01 Nec Corporation Selective call receiver using typeface-based source identification
US20110060813A1 (en) * 1996-01-26 2011-03-10 Payne John M System and method for transmission of data
US8489707B2 (en) 1996-01-26 2013-07-16 Simpleair, Inc. System and method for transmission of data
US7035914B1 (en) 1996-01-26 2006-04-25 Simpleair Holdings, Inc. System and method for transmission of data
US8601154B2 (en) 1996-01-26 2013-12-03 Simpleair, Inc. System and method for transmission of data
US6021433A (en) * 1996-01-26 2000-02-01 Wireless Internet, Inc. System and method for transmission of data
US8572279B2 (en) 1996-01-26 2013-10-29 Simpleair, Inc. System and method for transmission of data
US20110125862A1 (en) * 1996-01-26 2011-05-26 Payne John M System and Method for Transmission of Data
US20110138021A1 (en) * 1996-01-26 2011-06-09 Payne John M System and Method for Transmission of Data
US8090803B2 (en) 1996-01-26 2012-01-03 Simpleair, Inc. System and method for transmission of data
US6124801A (en) * 1996-04-23 2000-09-26 Nec Corporation Radio selective calling receiver and calling method
US6215979B1 (en) * 1997-08-28 2001-04-10 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Apparatus and method for generating alert in radio paging receiver
US7046239B2 (en) * 2000-01-25 2006-05-16 Minolta Co., Ltd. Electronic apparatus
US7917791B2 (en) 2000-01-25 2011-03-29 Minolta Co., Ltd. Electronic apparatus
US20060125814A1 (en) * 2000-01-25 2006-06-15 Minolta Co., Ltd. Electronic apparatus

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Publication number Publication date
CA2008254C (fr) 1999-11-09
CA2008254A1 (fr) 1990-08-03

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