# US 5,345,227 A · Pager with mask for database update

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- Number: US 5,345,227 A
- Document ID: US5345227A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/076,303
- Filed: 1993-06-11
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1987-05-15
- Assignees: Newspager Corporation of America
- Inventors: Anthony C. Fascenda; Daniel L. Gregg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345227A

## CPC

- G08B 3/1091: {Group calling}
- G08B 3/1016: {using wireless transmission (calling systems using transmission by inductive loop H04B5/00)}
- G08B 5/22: using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B 5/223: {using wireless transmission}
- G08B 5/224: {Paging receivers with visible signalling details}
- G09B 5/08: providing for individual presentation of information to a plurality of student stations
- H04W 8/245: {from a network towards a terminal}
- H04W 88/022: {Selective call receivers}
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A pager system in which individual pagers have a database is disclosed. The database can be updated by transmitting a mask code and update data. The mask code indicates a mask stored in the individual pager itself which receives the data. Using the mask code, the mask is identified and used to indicate positions in the database where data is to be written.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for disseminating modifications to a database stored in a plurality of receivers, comprising the steps of:
transmitting a mask code and mask data;
storing in said receivers a mask indicating positions in said database where said mask data is to be written;
examining a received message to detect said mask code; and
writing, in response to said mask code, said mask data at said positions indicated by said mask.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
transmitting said mask to said receivers; and
receiving and storing, in said receivers, said mask.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
storing a plurality of masks in said receivers, each mask having a corresponding mask ID;
transmitting a mask ID with said mask data;
comparing a received mask ID with the mask IDs stored in said receiver; and
if said received mask ID matches a stored mask ID, retrieving a mask corresponding to said mask ID and writing said mask data at said positions in said database indicated by said mask.

### Claim 4

A method for disseminating modifications to a database stored in a plurality of receivers, comprising the steps of:
transmitting a mask code, mask ID and mask data;
storing in said receivers a plurality of masks and mask IDs, each mask ID corresponding to a different one of said masks, each mask indicating positions in said database where said mask data is to be written;
examining a received message for said mask code;
comparing, in response to detecting aid mask code, a received mask ID to said stored mask IDs;
if said received mask ID matches a stored mask ID, retrieving a mask corresponding to said mask ID; and
writing aid mask data at positions in said database indicated by said retrieved mask.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:
transmitting at least one of said masks and mask ID; and
receiving and storing in said receivers said transmitted mask and mask ID.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:
transmitting an indication of a number of blocks of data, for said retrieved mask; and
repeatedly using said retrieved mask in said receivers to write different portions of said mask data on different pages of said database as indicated by said indication.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:
transmitting a number of pages to be skipped after each use of said retrieved mask; and
skipping, in said receivers, said number of pages after each write of mask data using said retrieved mask.