US 4,845,491 A · Pager based information system

Abstract

A pager based information system is used to transmit both conventional private messages (using unique pager IDs) and two types of unconventional multi-recipient (M-R) messages (using database IDs and group IDs), all using the conventional POCSAG pager transmission format. Operation of the pager is software controlled through the use of a microprocessor and a RAM; auxiliary chips are not needed because of the relatively slow transmission speeds. Authority to receive the M-R messages is provided at the time of manufacture (database IDs) or via broadcasts (group IDs). Database type M-R messages are stored in the pager RAM in a hierarchial or tree structure. The software controlled pagers permit the over-the-air modification of the operation of selected pagers, such as the addition or deletion of group IDs and the change in the tree structure of the storage area for the database messages. The pager includes a real time pager clock which is update by pairs of broadcast time messages, the second having a time correction for the first.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for disseminating different types of information to different sets of recipients using a pager based broadcast system of the type including a transmitter and pagers, each pager having a pager memory containing a unique pager ID, the pager memory including a read only memory and a read/write memory, comprising the following steps:

(a) transmitting a multiple-recipient (M-R) message by the transmitter according to a pager format, the M-R message including an M-R ID corresponding to a chosen set of the pagers, each pager in the chosen set of pagers having the M-R ID stored in the pager memory, the transmitting step including the step of transmitting a database structure message;
(aa) structuring at least a portion of the read/write memory of the at least one pager according to the database structure message;
(b) monitoring the M-R messages by the pagers;
(c) receiving the M-R message by at least one pager of the chosen set of pagers;
and
(d) storing the M-R message at a database structure location in the structured portion of the read/write memory of the at least one pager.

3 more elements

(a) transmitting multiple-recipient (M-R) messages by the transmitter according to a pager format, each M-R message including an M-R ID corresponding to a chosen set of the pagers, each pager in the chosen set of pagers having the M-R ID stored in an M-R ID location in the pager memory;
(b) monitoring the M-R messages by the pagers;
(c) receiving the M-R message by at least one pager of the chosen set of pagers;
(d) storing the M-R message in the read/write memory of the at least one pager;
(e) the (a) transmitting step including chosen ones of the steps of:
e(1) transmitting an M-R data message, the M-R data message being stored in the read/write memory at one of a plurality of M-R data location;
e(2) transmitting an M-R modification message including a first pager ID and an M-R ID modification instruction for modifying the information in the M-R ID location;
and
e(3) transmitting an M-R storage modification message for modifying the storage structure of at least one of the plurality of M-R data locations;
and
(f) selectively accessing the M-R data message in the read/write memory of the at least one pager.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pager based information system

Life of this patent

Pager based information system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30