EP0086255A1 - Paging receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

A paging receiver with a computing unit is proposed by means of which the transmitted status messages are visually and possibly also acoustically indicated. An input device (21) (keyboard) is provided by means of which at least one word, particularly a telephone number, can be allocated to each status message. When a status message is received, the associated word, instead of the number of the status message, is given to a visual display device (18). This also provides, in addition to better identification of the status message, the direct possibility of calling back by telephone. <IMAGE>

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a pager (paging receiver) according to the preamble of the main claim.

Such receivers are already widely used and are used to provide a person with one or more pieces of information (status messages) via the radio path. The receiving person can assign the various status messages to different callers in accordance with a previously made agreement and ask them, for example via the telephone network, about the purpose of the call. More complex devices, as described, for example, in the magazine "Fortune", December 28, 1981, page 67, include the option of passing through multi-digit numbers or entire texts. This then of course has the disadvantage that the radio channel is occupied for a long time. The more modern pager usually include a microprocessor.

When several different status messages can be received by such a pager, it is often difficult to distinguish between them. Even if this were easily possible and an assignment to a specific caller is recognized, the telephone number for the callback must still be taken from the telephone book or a notebook.

Advantages of the invention

The paging receiver according to the invention with the characterizing features of the main claim has the advantage that the user of the paging receiver can already assign words, in particular telephone numbers, to each status message, which then appear instead of the number of the status message on the display device when a status message is received. In the case of a telephone number and / or possibly the name of the caller or his abbreviation, a callback can then be made without difficulty. Both the assignment and the further information on how to call back are then given immediately. This additional information is made possible, although only simple status messages are transmitted via the radio path that only occupy the radio channel for a very short time.

The measures listed in the subclaims enable advantageous further developments and improvements to the paging receiver specified in the main claim.

drawing

• Fig. 1 ein Blockschaltbild des Personenrufempfängers und
• Fig. 2 ein entsprechendes Gehäuse.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description. Show it

• Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the pager and
• Fig. 2 shows a corresponding housing.

Description of the embodiment

Via an antenna 10, the received radio signals reach a UHF or VHF part 11, where they are selectively amplified. In a downstream mixer stage 12, the signals of an oscillator 13 are fed to these signals, so that an intermediate frequency arises which is amplified in an IF stage 14. The data-coded signals (FSK signals) are demodulated in the downstream discriminator 15, which are then subsequently converted into digital data signals in a decision circuit 16. These data signals are then decoded and the decoded value is displayed in the downstream computer unit 17, preferably a microcomputer. This display takes place optically on a display device 18 and acoustically via an amplifier 19 and a loudspeaker 20. The decoded value is present as a so-called status message, with ten different status messages being able to be represented by ten different numbers on the display device 18, for example. Accordingly, ten different tone sequences are emitted by the loudspeaker 20, which the operator must identify. The tone sequences are generated by the computer unit 17. This computer unit 17 is also assigned to an input device 21, which is shown in the illustration as a keyboard with 16 keys.

In Fig. 2 the housing of the pager is shown, which has essentially credit card format. The blocks shown in FIG. 1 are accommodated or applied in this housing. The display device 18 (display), the input device 21 (keyboard), the loudspeaker 20 and a mute button 23 are accommodated on the front of this housing.

The mode of operation of the exemplary embodiment shown is that when a radio signal arrives, the status message it contains is first displayed as a number on the display device 18 and, at the same time, a corresponding tone sequence is emitted via the loudspeaker 20. If the mute button 23 is actuated, the visual display is still carried out, but this is suppressed acoustically, for example in order not to disturb an important conference.

The input keyboard 21 can now be used to assign more detailed information to each status message. For example, status message No. 6 is assigned an eight-digit telephone number and a two-digit abbreviation for the owner of this telephone number. This can be done, for example, by pressing key 6 after pressing an input key of input device 21, then an equation key and finally the telephone number and the abbreviation. The telephone number and the short sign are then stored in a memory of the computer unit 17. If the corresponding status message is received, the corresponding memory cells are addressed via the number 6 and the memory content is given to the display device 18 instead of the number 6. In this way, to recognize ^g erufene immediately who the caller is and what phone number he can reach him. Of course, instead of telephone numbers, any other information can be assigned to the status reports in this way.

Since the pager with the input device 21 and the display device 18 already contains all the hardware elements required for performing arithmetic operations are necessary, it is particularly advantageous to also assign arithmetic functions to the computer unit 17. In this way, the pager can then be used as a calculator without additional hardware.

Further functions and combinations of functions can of course also be implemented in the computer unit 17, for example time functions and individually programmable muting functions.

Claims (3)

1. pager (paging receiver) with a receiving stage, a decoding stage for the transmitted data signals and a computer unit by which a transmitted status message is indicated optically and / or acoustically, characterized in that an input device (21) (keyboard) is provided, by means of which at least one word can be assigned to each status message and that when a status message is received the assigned word is given on an optical display device (18). 2. Paging receiver according to claim 1, characterized in that the associated word is a telephone number. 3. Pager according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the computer unit (17) contains arithmetic functions that can be carried out via the input device (21).

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