Control interface for combined watch and pager functions

A display control interface arrangement for a device normally generating and displaying time information, the device having a plurality of switches for controlling the time display, the switches including permanent indicia positionally adjacent the switches for indicating the switch functions, the device being further capable of receiving transmitted coded message signals, said arrangement comprising:

• receiver means for receiving and decoding the transmitted coded message signals to derive control signals and information;
• means for internally generating time information and means for displaying the same;
• input steering means coupled to the plurality of switches and further coupled to said time information generating means and to said receiver means for enabling control of said time information generating means and said receiver means by said switches, said input steering means enabling control of said receiver means in response to the control signals;
• information selecting means coupled to said time information generating means and to said receiver means for selecting the display of time information and derived information, said information selecting means responsive to said input steering means for selecting the display of derived information in response to the control signals, said information selecting means further electronically selecting indicia displayed on said display means positionally adjacent the plurality of switches indicating the new switch functions enabled in response to the control signals;
• and
• display interface means coupled to said display means and responsive to said information selecting means for effecting the display of selected information.

A display control interface arrangement for a wrist worn device normally generating and displaying time information, the device having a plurality of switches for controlling the time display, the switches including permanent indicia positionally adjacent the switches for indicating the switch functions, the device being further capable of receiving transmitted coded message signals including selective call signalling and message information, said arrangement comprising:

• receiver means including a receiver portion, identification means and decoder means, said receiver portion for receiving and demodulating the transmitted coded message signals to derive selective call signalling and message information, said identification means for storing predetermined device identification information, and said decoder means coupled to said identification means and responsive to the selective call signalling information for deriving control signals when the selective call signalling matches the predetermined device identification information;
• means for internally generating time information and means for displaying the same;
• input steering means coupled to the plurality of switches and further coupled to said time information generating means and to said receiver means for enabling control of said time information generating means and said receiver means by said switches, said input steering means enabling control of said receiver means in response to the control signals;
• information selecting means coupled to said time information generating means and to said receiver means for selecting the display of time information and message information, said information selecting means responsive to said input steering means for selecting the message information in response to the control signals, said information selecting means further electronically selecting indicia displayed on said display means positionally adjacent the plurality of switches indicating the new switch functions enabled in response to the control signals;
• and
• display interface means coupled to said display means and responsive to said information selecting means for effecting the display of selected information.

A method for controlling the display on a device normally generating and displaying time information, the device having a plurality of switches for controlling the time display, the switches including permanent indicia positionally adjacent the switches for indicating the switch functions, the device further capable of receiving transmitted coded message signals, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving and decoding the transmitted coded message signals to derive control signals and message information;
• modifying the functions of the switches in response to the control signals;
• and
• electronically selecting indicia and displaying the same positionally adjacent the switches indicating the new switch functions, whereby in response to receiving and decoding the coded message signals, the switch functions are changed allowing display of the derived message information.