Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving encoded data

An apparatus in a radio paging system which transmits and receives by radio signals encoded data derived from input data generated by a user, the input data comprising substantially readable text characters, the apparatus comprising in a radio paging system controller:

• input means for accepting the input data;
• memory means coupled to a processor means for storing encoded data generated by an optical character recognition means and a graphic encoding means;
• radio transmitter controller means coupled to the processor means for controlling radio transmissions of the encoded data;
• and
• the processor means coupled to the input means for processing the input data, wherein the processor means comprises:
• the optical character recognition means for encoding a first portion of the substantially readable text characters of the input data into character code format data, wherein the first portion comprises characters that are recognizable by the optical character recognition means and that have not been specially identified by the user as ineligible for encoding as character code format data;
• the graphic encoding means for encoding a second portion of the substantially readable text characters of the input data into graphic code format data, wherein the second portion comprises characters that are not recognizable by the optical character recognition means and characters that have been specially identified by the user as ineligible for encoding as character code format data, even though the specially identified characters may be recognizable by the optical character recognition means;
• and
• position description means for describing original positions relative to one another of the substantially readable text characters.

The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, further comprising in a selective call radio receiver:

• an antenna for intercepting the radio transmissions;
• radio receiver means coupled to the antenna for receiving the radio transmissions and decoding the encoded data;
• conversion means coupled to the radio receiver means for converting the encoded data into displayable text characters and graphic images;
• and
• display means coupled to the conversion means for displaying the displayable text characters and graphic images in a substantially readable presentation.

A communications controller in a radio paging system which transmits and receives by radio signals encoded data derived from input data generated by a user, the input data comprising substantially readable text characters, the communications controller comprising:

• an input receiver for accepting the input data;
• a memory coupled to a processor for storing encoded data generated by an optical character recognition element and a graphic encoding element;
• a radio transmitter controller coupled to the processor for controlling radio transmissions of the encoded data;
• and
• the processor coupled to the input receiver for processing the input data, wherein the processor comprises:
• the optical character recognition element for encoding a first portion of the substantially readable text characters of the input data into character code format data, wherein the first portion comprises characters that are recognizable by the optical character recognition element and that have not been specially identified by the user as ineligible for encoding as character code format data;
• the graphic encoding element for encoding a second portion of the substantially readable text characters of the input data into graphic code format data, wherein the second portion comprises characters that are not recognizable by the optical character recognition element and characters that have been specially identified by the user as ineligible for encoding as character code format data, even though the specially identified characters may be recognizable by the optical character recognition element;
• and
• position description means for describing original positions relative to one another of the substantially readable text characters.

A selective call receiver for use in a communication system that transmits and receives by radio signals encoded data derived from input data generated by a user, the input data comprising substantially readable text characters having original scales and positions relative to one another, the selective call receiver comprising:

• an antenna for intercepting the radio signals;
• radio receiver means coupled to the antenna for receiving the radio signals comprising an address and the encoded data;
• a selective call address decoder coupled to the radio receiver for decoding the address;
• a processor coupled to the selective call address decoder for processing the encoded data,
• wherein the processor processes the encoded data in response to the decoded address being a facsimile address assigned to the selective call receiver, and
• wherein the processor does not process the encoded data in response to the decoded address not being a facsimile address assigned to the selective call receiver;
• a conversion element coupled to the receiver for converting the encoded data into locally generated text characters and graphic images of text characters, the conversion element comprising:
• a sizing element for sizing the graphic images of text characters relative to the locally generated text characters to substantially reproduce the original scales of the substantially readable text characters relative to one another;
• and
• a positioning element coupled to the sizing element for positioning the graphic images of text characters relative to the locally generated text characters to substantially reproduce the original positions of the substantially readable text characters relative to one another;
• and
• a display coupled to the conversion element for displaying the displayable text characters and graphic images.