CA1262385A - Pager watch system utilizing time slot communication - Google Patents
Pager watch system utilizing time slot communicationInfo
- Publication number
- CA1262385A CA1262385A CA000496881A CA496881A CA1262385A CA 1262385 A CA1262385 A CA 1262385A CA 000496881 A CA000496881 A CA 000496881A CA 496881 A CA496881 A CA 496881A CA 1262385 A CA1262385 A CA 1262385A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- time slot
- data
- time
- pager
- power
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000012937 correction Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims 12
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims 7
- 230000000415 inactivating effect Effects 0.000 claims 3
- 239000000284 extract Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000002457 bidirectional effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000872 buffer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003550 marker Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000136 polysorbate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 108700001054 rat Hhex Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 210000000707 wrist Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
- G04G21/00—Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
- G04G21/04—Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces using radio waves
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
- G04R20/00—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
- G04R20/14—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal the radio signal being a telecommunication standard signal, e.g. GSM
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04R—RADIO-CONTROLLED TIME-PIECES
- G04R20/00—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
- G04R20/20—Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal the radio signal being an AM/FM standard signal, e.g. RDS
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B3/00—Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems
- G08B3/10—Audible signalling systems; Audible personal calling systems using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B3/1008—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems
- G08B3/1016—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems using wireless transmission
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
- G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B5/222—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
- G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B5/222—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems
- G08B5/223—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems using wireless transmission
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
- G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
- G08B5/222—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems
- G08B5/223—Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems using wireless transmission
- G08B5/224—Paging receivers with visible signalling details
- G08B5/228—Paging receivers with visible signalling details combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
- Circuits Of Receivers In General (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A method and apparatus for transmitting paging and absolute time information to, and receiving such information at, a remote portable electronic timepiece and pager unit during a short time slot assigned to the pager unit is disclosed. In the pager unit, an oscilla-tor is coupled to a timer which produces a time display.
These functions are constantly powered. The timer per-iodically causes power to be supplied to a receiver and message decoding components of the pager unit during a short time slot in which transmitted data is to be re-ceived. The receiver detects and reconstitutes a trans-mitted signal. The transmitted signal is processed through a decoder which extracts paging and time update data. If the paging data includes the pager unit's ID
number, the unit indicates that a page has been received.
The time update data extracted from the transmitted signal is used to synchronize a timer in the pager unit.
The timer provides an accurate time indication for the watch function. The same timer additionally determines when power is supplied to the pager unit's receiver and message decoder components so that they will be powered during the short time slot.
A method and apparatus for transmitting paging and absolute time information to, and receiving such information at, a remote portable electronic timepiece and pager unit during a short time slot assigned to the pager unit is disclosed. In the pager unit, an oscilla-tor is coupled to a timer which produces a time display.
These functions are constantly powered. The timer per-iodically causes power to be supplied to a receiver and message decoding components of the pager unit during a short time slot in which transmitted data is to be re-ceived. The receiver detects and reconstitutes a trans-mitted signal. The transmitted signal is processed through a decoder which extracts paging and time update data. If the paging data includes the pager unit's ID
number, the unit indicates that a page has been received.
The time update data extracted from the transmitted signal is used to synchronize a timer in the pager unit.
The timer provides an accurate time indication for the watch function. The same timer additionally determines when power is supplied to the pager unit's receiver and message decoder components so that they will be powered during the short time slot.
Description
3~
BACKGROUN~ OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of paging systems utilizing battery powered portable pagers.
Paging systems have used various methods for reducing the power consumption of battery-operated por-table pagers in order to miniaturize the pager unit.
One such approach involves supplying power to the re-ceiver circuitry only during predetermined time slots in which data relating to the particular pager unit is broadcast. In the absence of accurate synchronization between the transmitter and receiver, a long time slot is required to insure that the pertinent data is received and thus more power is consumed.
Apart from paging systems there are methods by which a clock can be remotely reset by a transmitted signal. Tohyama et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,358,836, for example, shows a method for setting a watch from a trans-mitted time announcement signal.
A combination of a pager utilizing time slot transmission with a resettable watch is shown by Natori et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,937,00~. The Natori system shows a watch controlled by a countPr which is periodic-ally reset by a transmitted signal. The use of an in-ternal counter allows errors to accumulate since the counter will have some amount of error, and the error in each count will be added to ~he time indication.
Thus, the watch may stray from the correct time. This straying requires the use of a large time slot to accom-modate errors in the time when the pager~s receiver is powered up.
~ i2~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method and appara-tus for transmitting paging and time information from a - 5 central station and receiving such information at a remote electronic timepiece and pager unit during a short kime slot assigned to the pager unit. In the pager unit, an oscillator is coupled to a timer which produces a time display. These functions are constantly powered. The timer periodically causes power to be supplied to the receiver and message decoding components, during a short time slot in which the transmitted data is to be received. The receiver detects and reconsti-tutes the transmitted signal. The transmitted signal is processed through a decoder which extracts paging and time update data. If ~he paging data includes the pager unit's ID number, the unit audibly and/or visually indicates to the user that a page has been received.
The time update data extracted from the trans-mitted signal is used to synchronize the timer in the pager unit. The timer serves the dual function of pro-viding an accurate time indication for the watch func-tion as well as causing power to be supplied during the time slot as described.
By transmitting time update information rather than resetting an internal counter, the watch function is accurately synchronized and will not stray. Because the timer which is synchronized powers up the receiver during the pager unit's assigned time slot in addition to indicating the correct time, a very short time slot can be used.
In the preferred embodiment, the unit corrects its time slot alignment by comparing the transmitted time slot position to its assigned time slot position.
If they do not match, this means the timer has caused the receiver circuit to be powered at the wrong time, so the timer is adjusted by the difference in time be-tween the received time slot and its assigned tim~ slot.
The timer will thereafter cause the receiver circuit to be powered up during its assigned time slot.
In the preferred embodiment, if a time slot - 5 i6 not filled with data, an end of message signal in-structs the pager unit to power down early, thereby achieving an additional reduction in power consumption beyond the reduction achieved by only powering the re-ceiver circuit during short time slots. Because of its low cost, compactness and thus possible widespread use, the present invention could be used in a system where the employer of the person to be paged (an office, hos~
pital, etc.~ is the subscriber, or in a broader system, such as where each person with a pager watch is a sub scriber and can be called by anyone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pager watch of the present invention.
Fig. 2A-2C is a time slot diagram of the pre-ferred er~odiment of the time slot format of the present nventlon.
Fig. 3A is a time slot block diagram of the preferred embodimen-t of the transmitter station of the present in~ention.
Fig. 3B is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the timepiece and pager unit.
DESCRIPTION OF TH~ PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figure 1 illustrates a pager watch according to the invention. The watch face shows a number of indicator lights 7 which can be assigned to predefined messages, such as "call home," "call the office," etc.
The digital display 8 may show a phone number to be called. In addition, the display 9 indicates a time and any other functions of a normal wristwatch.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is best understood with reference to a specific transmission data format, although a number of data formats could be used. Figure 2 shows a preferred time slot frame format for a transmitted signal. A time frame (Fig. 2A) indi-- 5 cated by bidirectional arrow 10 is composed of 100 time slots such as the one indicated at 12. In the preferred embodiment, the length of the time frame is 10 minutes, with each time slot thus being 6 seconds long. The time frame is reinitiated every 10 minutes. The first, or "0", time slot, indicated at 14, contains time update information. The remaining time slots, numbered 1-99, contain paging information in the format shown in ex-panded time slot 12.
Time slot 12 is composed of up to 125 identi-cal message channels (Fig. 2B) such as the one repre-sented at 16 plus an initial time slot address channel, represented at 18. The time slot address is a digital representation of one of the numbers 0 through 99, de-pending on which time slot is represented. Each message channel is 40 milliseconds in length, except the time slot address channel, which is 1 second long.
Message channel 16 is shown in expanded form in Fig. 2C. A first portion 20 of message channel 16 contains synchronization bits. A second portion 22 contains the identification number for a particular timepiece-pager unit. A third portion 2~ contains func-tion data indicating the type of message to be indi-cated on the face of the timepiece-pager unit. Alter-nately, the function data could indicate that the nex-t message channel contains a phone numbex to be displayed, rathex than an identification number. A last portion 26 of the message channel contains error correction data.
Figure 3A is a block diagram of a transmitting system at a central paging site. The transmission of the paging information in the present invention could be achieved in a variety of manners, such as by using traditional low-power transmissions, by using FM or ~M
sideband channels or by using the TV vertical blanking intexval. As shown in Figure 3A, a series of incoming phone lines 28 provide paging data to a telephone line concentrator 30. Concentrator 30 buffers the relatively slow data coming from a caller in the form of Dual-Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) signals. The system can be totally automatic, with no operators or dispatchers. Calls can be prompted by computer voice messages which ask for the caller's subscriber identification number (the user's office, hospital, etc., if applicable), the page ID
number of the person to be paged, a predetermined message function number (to indicate "call office," etc.), and an optional phone number. The information is then given to a computer 32, which numerically sorts the messages by ID number and packs them into their assigned time slots. Blocks of data are evaluated and error correc-tion data is added to each block by computer 32. Compu-ter 32 is connected to a master clock 34, and when the master clock reference time reaches a particular time slot, the block o~ data for such time slot is broadcast by a transmitter 36 after being encoded for an appropri-ate modulation scheme, such as frequency shift keying.
In the preferred embodiment, transmitter 36 is an FM
transmitter and the block of data is used to modulate a subcarrier channel of the FM broadcast band.
If a particular time slot is not filled with data, computer 32 will append an end of message code after the last unit of data in the time slot which will instruct the individual pager units to power down early.
The computer can also perform other functions, such as preparing billing data for pager subscribers.
Figure 3B shows a block diagram of the pre-ferred embodiment of a timepiece and pager unit. A
wrist loop antenna 38 picks up the transmitted signal and is connected to a receiver 40. Receiver 40 is tuned to the transmission frequency by an oscillator 42.
Oscillator 42 is also connected to a timer 44. Timer 3~
44 provides a time signal to a watch face time display 46. Oscillator 42, timer 44, and watch face time dis-play 46 are constantly powered by a battery 48 (as are the displays discussed later). The receiver and decoding components of the pager unit, which are to the right of dotted line 49, are only supplied power when timer 44 provides an enable signal to a switch 50. The timer is programmed to send such an enable signal only during a time slot assigned to the pager unit. The pager unit may, for example, be assigned to time slot 12 shown in Fig. 2.
The signal supplied to receiver 40 is recon-stituted as a digital signal. The reconstituted digital signal is then supplied to a decoder 52 which converts it into its original digital format. The digital infor-mation is then processed through an error correction circuit 54 and any detected errors are corrected. The corrected data is then applied simultaneously to an identification number detector module 56 and to a func-tion decoder 58. Module 56 determines whether the cor-rect time slot position has been received and then exa-mines each pager unit ID number received to determine whether it matches the ID number assigned to the receiv-ing pager unit.
In the event -the received time slot address does not match the pager unit's assigned time slot posi-tion, module 56 calculates the time until the correct time slot by subtracting the received time slot position from the pager unit's assigned time slot position and sends a correction signal to timer 44 causing the timer to open switch 50, thereby removing power from the re-ceiver and message decoding components, until such cor-rect time slot.
Function decoder 58 is only enabled by module 56 in the event there is a ma-tch between a received ID
number and the pager unit's ID number. If there is a ~time slot match and an ID number match for the 3~ f appearing in the first channel of the time slot, time slot position 18 in Figure 2. In the preferred embodi-ment, this first message channel would be one second 5 long, and the time slot position would appear either at the end of the time slot address channel or be repeated throughout. Thus, the timepiece and pager unit can drift by up to approximately one second every 10 minutes or approximately 144 seconds a day and still be suffi-10 ciently synchronized to receive paging information be-cause the time is corrected with the time data update every 10 minutes.
If the pager unit determines that it has turned on during the wrong time slo-t, it will calculate the 15 difference between the time slot position detected and its assigned time slot position. The pager unit will then power down and later power up again during the correc-t time slot.
In theory a pager unit only needs to power up 20 long enough to receive its paging information, so that a time frame could be divided into a larger number of small time slots, each representing a single pager unit, instead of larger time slots to which are assigned a block of pager units. However, current cost-effective 25 consumer electronics technology cannot maintain the degree of timer accuracy needed to achieve such a precise alignment.
As described above, each pager unit also powers up during the initial time slot in order to receive 30 time update information. To achieve additional power savings, a pager unit might only power up during this 7initial time slot in the event it has strayed from its assigned time slot, while using the time at which it receives the time slot position to provide minor correc-35 tions to the timer.
If there is a low volume of paging messages, such that a time slot is not completely filled with data, the message cha~nel after the last message f channel containing data would contain a power down mes-sage. This ~ould instruct the individual pagers to turn of power for the remaining time of the time slot - 5 since there is no additional information in the remain-ing time of the time slot. Thus, if an end of message signal appears af-ter four seconds into the six second time slot, an additional power savings of one-third is realized.
Upon recognition of i-ts ID number an indivi-dual timepiece and pager unit would emit a sound to alert the user that a page has been received. Function data would then follow and could contain instructions to illuminate an assigned marker for a predefined mes-sage such as "call home" or "call the office," etc., or could indicate that the next message channel contains a phone number which is to be displayed on the face of the timepiece and pager unit.
Additional features can be added to the pre-sent invention to enhance its capabilities or reduce the power consumption. For instance, individual pager units can be programmed to shut off during off hours such as after midnight and before seven in the morning.
In another variation, if an individual subscriber did not want to have a delay of lO minutes before receiving a paging message, that paging unit could be assigned to two time slot positions so that at most there would be a 5 minute delay before receiving a page message.
~s will be understood by those familiar with the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, disclo-sure of the preferred embodiment of the present inven-tion is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
BACKGROUN~ OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of paging systems utilizing battery powered portable pagers.
Paging systems have used various methods for reducing the power consumption of battery-operated por-table pagers in order to miniaturize the pager unit.
One such approach involves supplying power to the re-ceiver circuitry only during predetermined time slots in which data relating to the particular pager unit is broadcast. In the absence of accurate synchronization between the transmitter and receiver, a long time slot is required to insure that the pertinent data is received and thus more power is consumed.
Apart from paging systems there are methods by which a clock can be remotely reset by a transmitted signal. Tohyama et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,358,836, for example, shows a method for setting a watch from a trans-mitted time announcement signal.
A combination of a pager utilizing time slot transmission with a resettable watch is shown by Natori et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,937,00~. The Natori system shows a watch controlled by a countPr which is periodic-ally reset by a transmitted signal. The use of an in-ternal counter allows errors to accumulate since the counter will have some amount of error, and the error in each count will be added to ~he time indication.
Thus, the watch may stray from the correct time. This straying requires the use of a large time slot to accom-modate errors in the time when the pager~s receiver is powered up.
~ i2~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a method and appara-tus for transmitting paging and time information from a - 5 central station and receiving such information at a remote electronic timepiece and pager unit during a short kime slot assigned to the pager unit. In the pager unit, an oscillator is coupled to a timer which produces a time display. These functions are constantly powered. The timer periodically causes power to be supplied to the receiver and message decoding components, during a short time slot in which the transmitted data is to be received. The receiver detects and reconsti-tutes the transmitted signal. The transmitted signal is processed through a decoder which extracts paging and time update data. If ~he paging data includes the pager unit's ID number, the unit audibly and/or visually indicates to the user that a page has been received.
The time update data extracted from the trans-mitted signal is used to synchronize the timer in the pager unit. The timer serves the dual function of pro-viding an accurate time indication for the watch func-tion as well as causing power to be supplied during the time slot as described.
By transmitting time update information rather than resetting an internal counter, the watch function is accurately synchronized and will not stray. Because the timer which is synchronized powers up the receiver during the pager unit's assigned time slot in addition to indicating the correct time, a very short time slot can be used.
In the preferred embodiment, the unit corrects its time slot alignment by comparing the transmitted time slot position to its assigned time slot position.
If they do not match, this means the timer has caused the receiver circuit to be powered at the wrong time, so the timer is adjusted by the difference in time be-tween the received time slot and its assigned tim~ slot.
The timer will thereafter cause the receiver circuit to be powered up during its assigned time slot.
In the preferred embodiment, if a time slot - 5 i6 not filled with data, an end of message signal in-structs the pager unit to power down early, thereby achieving an additional reduction in power consumption beyond the reduction achieved by only powering the re-ceiver circuit during short time slots. Because of its low cost, compactness and thus possible widespread use, the present invention could be used in a system where the employer of the person to be paged (an office, hos~
pital, etc.~ is the subscriber, or in a broader system, such as where each person with a pager watch is a sub scriber and can be called by anyone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pager watch of the present invention.
Fig. 2A-2C is a time slot diagram of the pre-ferred er~odiment of the time slot format of the present nventlon.
Fig. 3A is a time slot block diagram of the preferred embodimen-t of the transmitter station of the present in~ention.
Fig. 3B is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the timepiece and pager unit.
DESCRIPTION OF TH~ PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figure 1 illustrates a pager watch according to the invention. The watch face shows a number of indicator lights 7 which can be assigned to predefined messages, such as "call home," "call the office," etc.
The digital display 8 may show a phone number to be called. In addition, the display 9 indicates a time and any other functions of a normal wristwatch.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is best understood with reference to a specific transmission data format, although a number of data formats could be used. Figure 2 shows a preferred time slot frame format for a transmitted signal. A time frame (Fig. 2A) indi-- 5 cated by bidirectional arrow 10 is composed of 100 time slots such as the one indicated at 12. In the preferred embodiment, the length of the time frame is 10 minutes, with each time slot thus being 6 seconds long. The time frame is reinitiated every 10 minutes. The first, or "0", time slot, indicated at 14, contains time update information. The remaining time slots, numbered 1-99, contain paging information in the format shown in ex-panded time slot 12.
Time slot 12 is composed of up to 125 identi-cal message channels (Fig. 2B) such as the one repre-sented at 16 plus an initial time slot address channel, represented at 18. The time slot address is a digital representation of one of the numbers 0 through 99, de-pending on which time slot is represented. Each message channel is 40 milliseconds in length, except the time slot address channel, which is 1 second long.
Message channel 16 is shown in expanded form in Fig. 2C. A first portion 20 of message channel 16 contains synchronization bits. A second portion 22 contains the identification number for a particular timepiece-pager unit. A third portion 2~ contains func-tion data indicating the type of message to be indi-cated on the face of the timepiece-pager unit. Alter-nately, the function data could indicate that the nex-t message channel contains a phone numbex to be displayed, rathex than an identification number. A last portion 26 of the message channel contains error correction data.
Figure 3A is a block diagram of a transmitting system at a central paging site. The transmission of the paging information in the present invention could be achieved in a variety of manners, such as by using traditional low-power transmissions, by using FM or ~M
sideband channels or by using the TV vertical blanking intexval. As shown in Figure 3A, a series of incoming phone lines 28 provide paging data to a telephone line concentrator 30. Concentrator 30 buffers the relatively slow data coming from a caller in the form of Dual-Tone Multifrequency (DTMF) signals. The system can be totally automatic, with no operators or dispatchers. Calls can be prompted by computer voice messages which ask for the caller's subscriber identification number (the user's office, hospital, etc., if applicable), the page ID
number of the person to be paged, a predetermined message function number (to indicate "call office," etc.), and an optional phone number. The information is then given to a computer 32, which numerically sorts the messages by ID number and packs them into their assigned time slots. Blocks of data are evaluated and error correc-tion data is added to each block by computer 32. Compu-ter 32 is connected to a master clock 34, and when the master clock reference time reaches a particular time slot, the block o~ data for such time slot is broadcast by a transmitter 36 after being encoded for an appropri-ate modulation scheme, such as frequency shift keying.
In the preferred embodiment, transmitter 36 is an FM
transmitter and the block of data is used to modulate a subcarrier channel of the FM broadcast band.
If a particular time slot is not filled with data, computer 32 will append an end of message code after the last unit of data in the time slot which will instruct the individual pager units to power down early.
The computer can also perform other functions, such as preparing billing data for pager subscribers.
Figure 3B shows a block diagram of the pre-ferred embodiment of a timepiece and pager unit. A
wrist loop antenna 38 picks up the transmitted signal and is connected to a receiver 40. Receiver 40 is tuned to the transmission frequency by an oscillator 42.
Oscillator 42 is also connected to a timer 44. Timer 3~
44 provides a time signal to a watch face time display 46. Oscillator 42, timer 44, and watch face time dis-play 46 are constantly powered by a battery 48 (as are the displays discussed later). The receiver and decoding components of the pager unit, which are to the right of dotted line 49, are only supplied power when timer 44 provides an enable signal to a switch 50. The timer is programmed to send such an enable signal only during a time slot assigned to the pager unit. The pager unit may, for example, be assigned to time slot 12 shown in Fig. 2.
The signal supplied to receiver 40 is recon-stituted as a digital signal. The reconstituted digital signal is then supplied to a decoder 52 which converts it into its original digital format. The digital infor-mation is then processed through an error correction circuit 54 and any detected errors are corrected. The corrected data is then applied simultaneously to an identification number detector module 56 and to a func-tion decoder 58. Module 56 determines whether the cor-rect time slot position has been received and then exa-mines each pager unit ID number received to determine whether it matches the ID number assigned to the receiv-ing pager unit.
In the event -the received time slot address does not match the pager unit's assigned time slot posi-tion, module 56 calculates the time until the correct time slot by subtracting the received time slot position from the pager unit's assigned time slot position and sends a correction signal to timer 44 causing the timer to open switch 50, thereby removing power from the re-ceiver and message decoding components, until such cor-rect time slot.
Function decoder 58 is only enabled by module 56 in the event there is a ma-tch between a received ID
number and the pager unit's ID number. If there is a ~time slot match and an ID number match for the 3~ f appearing in the first channel of the time slot, time slot position 18 in Figure 2. In the preferred embodi-ment, this first message channel would be one second 5 long, and the time slot position would appear either at the end of the time slot address channel or be repeated throughout. Thus, the timepiece and pager unit can drift by up to approximately one second every 10 minutes or approximately 144 seconds a day and still be suffi-10 ciently synchronized to receive paging information be-cause the time is corrected with the time data update every 10 minutes.
If the pager unit determines that it has turned on during the wrong time slo-t, it will calculate the 15 difference between the time slot position detected and its assigned time slot position. The pager unit will then power down and later power up again during the correc-t time slot.
In theory a pager unit only needs to power up 20 long enough to receive its paging information, so that a time frame could be divided into a larger number of small time slots, each representing a single pager unit, instead of larger time slots to which are assigned a block of pager units. However, current cost-effective 25 consumer electronics technology cannot maintain the degree of timer accuracy needed to achieve such a precise alignment.
As described above, each pager unit also powers up during the initial time slot in order to receive 30 time update information. To achieve additional power savings, a pager unit might only power up during this 7initial time slot in the event it has strayed from its assigned time slot, while using the time at which it receives the time slot position to provide minor correc-35 tions to the timer.
If there is a low volume of paging messages, such that a time slot is not completely filled with data, the message cha~nel after the last message f channel containing data would contain a power down mes-sage. This ~ould instruct the individual pagers to turn of power for the remaining time of the time slot - 5 since there is no additional information in the remain-ing time of the time slot. Thus, if an end of message signal appears af-ter four seconds into the six second time slot, an additional power savings of one-third is realized.
Upon recognition of i-ts ID number an indivi-dual timepiece and pager unit would emit a sound to alert the user that a page has been received. Function data would then follow and could contain instructions to illuminate an assigned marker for a predefined mes-sage such as "call home" or "call the office," etc., or could indicate that the next message channel contains a phone number which is to be displayed on the face of the timepiece and pager unit.
Additional features can be added to the pre-sent invention to enhance its capabilities or reduce the power consumption. For instance, individual pager units can be programmed to shut off during off hours such as after midnight and before seven in the morning.
In another variation, if an individual subscriber did not want to have a delay of lO minutes before receiving a paging message, that paging unit could be assigned to two time slot positions so that at most there would be a 5 minute delay before receiving a page message.
~s will be understood by those familiar with the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, disclo-sure of the preferred embodiment of the present inven-tion is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
Claims (34)
1. A portable electronic pager for receiving a transmitted signal containing paging and timing data during a short time slot assigned to the pager, comprising:
an oscillator;
timing means connected to the oscillator for generating a time indicating signal and for controlling power consumption by said pager;
power supply means responsive to the timing means for providing power only during the pager's assigned time slot;
receiving means powered by the power supply means and connected to the oscillator for detecting the transmitted signal;
decoding means powered by the power supply means and connected to the receiving means for extracting the paging and timing data from the transmitted signal, wherein said timing data are situated at a beginning of said transmitted signal;
first synchronization means powered by the power supply means and responsive to the timing data for providing a time update signal to the timing means and for causing said timing means to inactivate said power supply if said time slot is not an assigned time slot, wherein said timing data include a time value, and said synchronization means is for taking a difference between said time value and said time indicating signal for generating said time update signal; and indicating means powered by the power supply means and responsive to the paging data for indicating when a page is detected.
an oscillator;
timing means connected to the oscillator for generating a time indicating signal and for controlling power consumption by said pager;
power supply means responsive to the timing means for providing power only during the pager's assigned time slot;
receiving means powered by the power supply means and connected to the oscillator for detecting the transmitted signal;
decoding means powered by the power supply means and connected to the receiving means for extracting the paging and timing data from the transmitted signal, wherein said timing data are situated at a beginning of said transmitted signal;
first synchronization means powered by the power supply means and responsive to the timing data for providing a time update signal to the timing means and for causing said timing means to inactivate said power supply if said time slot is not an assigned time slot, wherein said timing data include a time value, and said synchronization means is for taking a difference between said time value and said time indicating signal for generating said time update signal; and indicating means powered by the power supply means and responsive to the paging data for indicating when a page is detected.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further compris-ing alignment means for correcting the time slot align-ment of the circuit if the pager powers up out of align-ment with its assigned time slot.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the alignment means comprises:
means for causing the power up means to pro-vide power until a time slot address is detected;
means for comparing the detected time slot address with the pager's assigned time slot address;
means for determining the amount of time from the detected time slot address until the pager's as-signed time slot address; and means for instructing the power up means to remove power from all circuitry other than the oscilla-tor, timing means and display means until such deter-mined amount of time has passed.
means for causing the power up means to pro-vide power until a time slot address is detected;
means for comparing the detected time slot address with the pager's assigned time slot address;
means for determining the amount of time from the detected time slot address until the pager's as-signed time slot address; and means for instructing the power up means to remove power from all circuitry other than the oscilla-tor, timing means and display means until such deter-mined amount of time has passed.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further compris-ing early power down means responsive to an end of mes-sage instruction in the transmitted signal for instruct-ing the power up means to remove power to all circuitry other than the oscillator, timing means and display means.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further compris-ing means responsive to the paging data for enabling a plurality of display functions.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein one of the display functions comprises means for displaying a phone number contained in the paging data.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the receiver means includes a loop antenna contained in a watchband.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiver means includes a subcarrier detector.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicating means is a sound-emitting means.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitted signal comprises data divided into a peri-odically repeating plurality of time slots.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first time slot of each period contains timing data.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a plu-rality of the time slots comprise a time slot address code, and a plurality of message units.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a plu-rality of the message units comprise synchronization data, pager address data, function data for activating a display function, and error detection and correction data.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 including a second synchronization means responsive to the synchro-nization data for synchronizing the decoding means.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the function data includes a phone number.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 further com-prising error correction means responsive to the error detection and correction data for correcting any errors in the received data.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmitted signal is modulated by frequency-shift key-ing.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 further compris-ing display means connected to the timing means for indicating the time.
19. A portable electronic pager for receiving, during a short time slot assigned to the pager, a transmitted signal which has been modulated by modulating data representing time slot data and which includes blocks of data comprising reference time data and a plurality of identification number addresses, comprising:
oscillator means;
timing means coupled to said oscillator means for producing a time indicating signal and for controlling power consumption by said pager;
time display means responsive to said time indicating signal for indicating the time;
power supply means coupled to said timer means for supplying power only during the pager's assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to the oscillator for receiving the transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means for demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data;
means powered by the power supply means for decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data for identifying a time slot, wherein said time slot data are situated at a beginning of said transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said timer means for synchronizing the timer means to the reference time data and for inactivating the power supply means if said time slot is not an assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said decoding means for comparing an identification number address assigned to the pager to the identification number address of each received block of data; and means for producing an indicating signal when the pager identification number address is identical to an identification number address in a block of data.
oscillator means;
timing means coupled to said oscillator means for producing a time indicating signal and for controlling power consumption by said pager;
time display means responsive to said time indicating signal for indicating the time;
power supply means coupled to said timer means for supplying power only during the pager's assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to the oscillator for receiving the transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means for demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data;
means powered by the power supply means for decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data for identifying a time slot, wherein said time slot data are situated at a beginning of said transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said timer means for synchronizing the timer means to the reference time data and for inactivating the power supply means if said time slot is not an assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said decoding means for comparing an identification number address assigned to the pager to the identification number address of each received block of data; and means for producing an indicating signal when the pager identification number address is identical to an identification number address in a block of data.
20. A portable electronic pager for receiving, during a short time slot assigned to the pager, a transmitted signal which has been modulated by modulating data representing time slot data and which includes blocks of data comprising reference time data, a time slot identification code and a plurality of identification number addresses, comprising:
oscillator means;
timer means coupled to said oscillator means for producing a time indicating signal;
time display means responsive to said time indicating signal for indicating the time and for controlling power consumption by said pager;
power supply means coupled to said timer means for supplying power only during the pager's assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to the oscillator means for receiving the transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means for demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data;
means powered by the power supply means for decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data for identifying a time slot, wherein said time slot data are situated at a beginning of said transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means for comparing the transmitted time slot identification code contained in the time slot data to a time slot identification code assigned to the pager;
means powered by the power supply means for correcting the time slot alignment of the pager unit when the transmitted time slot identification code is not identical to the pager's assigned time slot identification code;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said timer means for synchronizing the timer means to the reference time data and for inactivating the power supply means if said time slot is not an assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said decoding means for comparing an identification number address assigned to the pager to the identification number address of each received block of data;
means for producing an indicating signal when the pager identification number address is identical to an identification number address in a block of data; and means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to the message selector data in the time slot data for activating a message indicator.
oscillator means;
timer means coupled to said oscillator means for producing a time indicating signal;
time display means responsive to said time indicating signal for indicating the time and for controlling power consumption by said pager;
power supply means coupled to said timer means for supplying power only during the pager's assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to the oscillator means for receiving the transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means for demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data;
means powered by the power supply means for decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data for identifying a time slot, wherein said time slot data are situated at a beginning of said transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means for comparing the transmitted time slot identification code contained in the time slot data to a time slot identification code assigned to the pager;
means powered by the power supply means for correcting the time slot alignment of the pager unit when the transmitted time slot identification code is not identical to the pager's assigned time slot identification code;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said timer means for synchronizing the timer means to the reference time data and for inactivating the power supply means if said time slot is not an assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said decoding means for comparing an identification number address assigned to the pager to the identification number address of each received block of data;
means for producing an indicating signal when the pager identification number address is identical to an identification number address in a block of data; and means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to the message selector data in the time slot data for activating a message indicator.
21. A portable electronic pager for receiving, during a short time slot assigned to the pager, a transmitted signal which has been modulated by modulating data representing time slot data and which includes blocks of data comprising reference time data, a time slot identification code, an error detection code, a plurality of identification number addresses and an end of message code, comprising:
oscillator means;
timer means coupled to said oscillator means for producing a time indicating signal and for controlling power consumption by said pager;
time display means responsive to said time indicating signal for indicating the time;
power supply means coupled to said timer means for supplying power only during the pager's assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to the oscillator means for receiving the transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means for demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data;
means powered by the power supply means for decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data for identifying a time slot, wherein said time slot data are situated at a beginning of said transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means and responsive to an error detection code in the time slot data for correcting any errors in each block of data;
means powered by the power supply means for comparing the transmitted time slot identification code contained in the time slot data to a time slot identification code assigned to the pager;
means powered by the power supply means for correcting the time slot alignment of the pager when the transmitted time slot identification code is not identical to the pager's assigned time slot identification code;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said timer means for synchronizing the timer means to the reference time data and for inactivating the power supply means if said time slot is not an assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said decoding means for comparing an identification number address assigned to the pager to the identification number address of each received block of data;
means for producing an indicating signal when the pager identification number address is identical to an identification number address in a block of data;
means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to the message selector data in the time slot data for activating a message indicator; and means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to said end of message code for causing the power supply means to withhold power.
oscillator means;
timer means coupled to said oscillator means for producing a time indicating signal and for controlling power consumption by said pager;
time display means responsive to said time indicating signal for indicating the time;
power supply means coupled to said timer means for supplying power only during the pager's assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to the oscillator means for receiving the transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means for demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data;
means powered by the power supply means for decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data for identifying a time slot, wherein said time slot data are situated at a beginning of said transmitted signal;
means powered by the power supply means and responsive to an error detection code in the time slot data for correcting any errors in each block of data;
means powered by the power supply means for comparing the transmitted time slot identification code contained in the time slot data to a time slot identification code assigned to the pager;
means powered by the power supply means for correcting the time slot alignment of the pager when the transmitted time slot identification code is not identical to the pager's assigned time slot identification code;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said timer means for synchronizing the timer means to the reference time data and for inactivating the power supply means if said time slot is not an assigned time slot;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said decoding means for comparing an identification number address assigned to the pager to the identification number address of each received block of data;
means for producing an indicating signal when the pager identification number address is identical to an identification number address in a block of data;
means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to the message selector data in the time slot data for activating a message indicator; and means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to said end of message code for causing the power supply means to withhold power.
22. A system for transmitting timing and paging information received from blocks of incoming data each block comprising a pager identification number and a message selector, during assigned time slots, comprising:
means for collecting blocks of incoming data from a number of incoming calls;
means for assigning an error detection code to each block;
means for sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
means for inserting a time slot identification code in each time slot;
means for producing a reference time signal;
means for inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
means for converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
means for modulating a carrier frequency with the modulating format data; and means for transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots.
means for collecting blocks of incoming data from a number of incoming calls;
means for assigning an error detection code to each block;
means for sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
means for inserting a time slot identification code in each time slot;
means for producing a reference time signal;
means for inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
means for converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
means for modulating a carrier frequency with the modulating format data; and means for transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots.
23. A system for transmitting timing and paging information received from blocks of incoming data, each block comprising a pager identification num-ber and a message selector, during assigned time slots, comprising:
means for collecting blocks of incoming data;
means for assigning an error detection code to each block;
means for sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
means for appending an end of message code after the last block in each time slot which is not filled;
means for inserting a time slot identification code at the beginning of each time slot;
means for producing a reference time signal;
means for inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
means for converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
means for modulating a carrier frequency with the modulating format data; and means for transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots.
means for collecting blocks of incoming data;
means for assigning an error detection code to each block;
means for sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
means for appending an end of message code after the last block in each time slot which is not filled;
means for inserting a time slot identification code at the beginning of each time slot;
means for producing a reference time signal;
means for inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
means for converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
means for modulating a carrier frequency with the modulating format data; and means for transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots.
24. A system for transmitting and receiving timing and paging information received from blocks of incoming data, each block comprising a pager identifica-tion number and a message selector, during assigned time slots, comprising:
means for collecting blocks of incoming data;
means for assigning an error detection code to each block;
means for sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
means for appending an end of message code after the last block in each time slot which is not filled;
means for inserting a time slot identification code at the beginning of each time slot;
means for producing a reference time signal;
means for inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
means for converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
means for modulating a carrier frequency with the modulating format data; and means for transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots;
oscillator means in a remote pager;
timer means coupled to said oscillator means for producing a time indicating signal;
time display means responsive to said time indicating signal for indicating the time;
power supply means coupled to said timer means for supplying power during the pager's assigned time slot and for powering down the pager during unassigned time slots;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to the oscillator means for receiving the transmitted signal at the remote pager;
means powered by the power supply means for demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data;
means powered by the power supply means for decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data;
means powered by the power supply means and responsive to an error detection code in the time slot data for correcting any errors in each block of data;
means powered by the power supply means for comparing the transmitted time slot identification code contained in the time slot data to the pager's assigned time slot identification code;
means powered by the power supply means for correcting the time slot alignment of the pager unit when the transmitted time slot identification code is not identical to the pager's assigned time slot identification code;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said timer means for synchronizing the timer means to the reference time data;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said decoding means for comparing the pager identification number address to the identification number address of each received block of data;
means for producing an indicating signal when the pager identification number address is identical to an identification number address in a block of data;
means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to the message selector data in the time slot data for activating a message indicator;
means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to said end of message code for causing the power supply means to withhold power; and means coupled to said timer means for causing the power supply means to withhold power at the end of the time slot.
means for collecting blocks of incoming data;
means for assigning an error detection code to each block;
means for sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
means for appending an end of message code after the last block in each time slot which is not filled;
means for inserting a time slot identification code at the beginning of each time slot;
means for producing a reference time signal;
means for inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
means for converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
means for modulating a carrier frequency with the modulating format data; and means for transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots;
oscillator means in a remote pager;
timer means coupled to said oscillator means for producing a time indicating signal;
time display means responsive to said time indicating signal for indicating the time;
power supply means coupled to said timer means for supplying power during the pager's assigned time slot and for powering down the pager during unassigned time slots;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to the oscillator means for receiving the transmitted signal at the remote pager;
means powered by the power supply means for demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data;
means powered by the power supply means for decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data;
means powered by the power supply means and responsive to an error detection code in the time slot data for correcting any errors in each block of data;
means powered by the power supply means for comparing the transmitted time slot identification code contained in the time slot data to the pager's assigned time slot identification code;
means powered by the power supply means for correcting the time slot alignment of the pager unit when the transmitted time slot identification code is not identical to the pager's assigned time slot identification code;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said timer means for synchronizing the timer means to the reference time data;
means powered by the power supply means and coupled to said decoding means for comparing the pager identification number address to the identification number address of each received block of data;
means for producing an indicating signal when the pager identification number address is identical to an identification number address in a block of data;
means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to the message selector data in the time slot data for activating a message indicator;
means coupled to said decoding means and responsive to said end of message code for causing the power supply means to withhold power; and means coupled to said timer means for causing the power supply means to withhold power at the end of the time slot.
25. A method for receiving a transmitted signal including paging and timing data at a pager during a short time slot assigned to the pager, comprising:
producing a constantly powered oscillating signal;
generating a constantly powered time indicating signal from the oscillating signal;
supplying time slot power during the assigned time slot and powering down the pager during unassigned time slots;
receiving the transmitted signal when time slot power is supplied;
decoding the transmitted signal to extract paging and timing data when time slot power is supplied, wherein the time slot data are situated at the beginning of the transmitted signal;
producing a signal indicating that a page has been detected in response to the paging data; and synchronizing the time indicating signal in response to the timing data when time slot power is supplied.
producing a constantly powered oscillating signal;
generating a constantly powered time indicating signal from the oscillating signal;
supplying time slot power during the assigned time slot and powering down the pager during unassigned time slots;
receiving the transmitted signal when time slot power is supplied;
decoding the transmitted signal to extract paging and timing data when time slot power is supplied, wherein the time slot data are situated at the beginning of the transmitted signal;
producing a signal indicating that a page has been detected in response to the paging data; and synchronizing the time indicating signal in response to the timing data when time slot power is supplied.
26. A method for receiving at a pager, during a short time slot assigned to the pager, a transmitted signal which has been modulated by modulating data representing time slot data and which includes blocks of data comprising reference time data, a time slot identification code and a plurality of identification number addresses, comprising:
supplying time slot power during the assigned time slot and powering down the pager during unassigned time slots;
receiving the transmitted signal when time slot power is supplied;
demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data when time slot power is supplied;
decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data when time slot power is supplied,.wherein the time slot data are situated at the beginning of the transmitted signal;
comparing the transmitted time slot identification code to a time slot identification code assigned to the pager when time slot power is supplied;
correcting the time slot alignment of the pager if there is not a match of time slot identification codes when time slot power is supplied;
producing a constantly powered time indicating signal;
synchronizing the time indication signal with the reference time data when time slot power is supplied;
comparing an identification number address assigned to the pager to each identification number address in each received block of data when time slot power is supplied; and producing an indicating signal if there is a match between the pager identification number address and an identification number address in a block of data.
supplying time slot power during the assigned time slot and powering down the pager during unassigned time slots;
receiving the transmitted signal when time slot power is supplied;
demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data when time slot power is supplied;
decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data when time slot power is supplied,.wherein the time slot data are situated at the beginning of the transmitted signal;
comparing the transmitted time slot identification code to a time slot identification code assigned to the pager when time slot power is supplied;
correcting the time slot alignment of the pager if there is not a match of time slot identification codes when time slot power is supplied;
producing a constantly powered time indicating signal;
synchronizing the time indication signal with the reference time data when time slot power is supplied;
comparing an identification number address assigned to the pager to each identification number address in each received block of data when time slot power is supplied; and producing an indicating signal if there is a match between the pager identification number address and an identification number address in a block of data.
27. The method of claim 26 further compris-ing correcting any errors in each block of data when time slot power is supplied.
28. The method of claim 26 further compris-ing displaying a time in response to the time indicating signal.
29. The method of claim 26 further compris-ing activating a message indicator in response to the time slot data.
30. The method of claim 26 further compris-ing removing the time slot power when there is no more data in the time slot.
31. A method for receiving at a pager, during a short time slot assigned to the pager, a transmitted signal which has been modulated by modulating data representing time slot data and which includes blocks of data comprising reference time data, a time slot identification code, a plurality of identification number addresses, an error correction code, message selector data and an end of message code, comprising:
supplying time slot power during the assigned time slot and powering down the pager during unassigned time slots;
turning a receiver in the pager when power is supplied;
receiving the transmitted signal when power is supplied;
demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data when time slot power is supplied;
decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data when time slot power is supplied, wherein the time slot data are situated at the beginning of the transmitted signal;
correcting any errors in each block of data utilizing the error correction code when time slot power is supplied;
comparing the transmitted time slot identification code to the pager's time slot identification code when power is supplied;
correcting the time slot alignment of the pager if there is not a match of time slot identification codes when time slot power is supplied;
producing a constantly powered time indicating signal;
displaying a constantly powered time in response to the time indicating signal;
synchronizing the time indicating signal with the reference time data when time slot power is supplied;
comparing the pager identification number address to each identification number address in each received block of data when time slot power is supplied;
producing an indicating signal if there is a match between the pager identification number address andd an identification number address in a block of data;
activating a message indicator in response to the message selector data; and removing the time slot power in response to the end of message code.
supplying time slot power during the assigned time slot and powering down the pager during unassigned time slots;
turning a receiver in the pager when power is supplied;
receiving the transmitted signal when power is supplied;
demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data when time slot power is supplied;
decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data when time slot power is supplied, wherein the time slot data are situated at the beginning of the transmitted signal;
correcting any errors in each block of data utilizing the error correction code when time slot power is supplied;
comparing the transmitted time slot identification code to the pager's time slot identification code when power is supplied;
correcting the time slot alignment of the pager if there is not a match of time slot identification codes when time slot power is supplied;
producing a constantly powered time indicating signal;
displaying a constantly powered time in response to the time indicating signal;
synchronizing the time indicating signal with the reference time data when time slot power is supplied;
comparing the pager identification number address to each identification number address in each received block of data when time slot power is supplied;
producing an indicating signal if there is a match between the pager identification number address andd an identification number address in a block of data;
activating a message indicator in response to the message selector data; and removing the time slot power in response to the end of message code.
32. A method for transmitting timing and paging information received from blocks of incoming data, each block comprising a pager identification number and a message selector, during assigned time slots, comprising:
collecting blocks of incoming data;
assigning an error detection code to each block;
sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
inserting a time slot identification code in each time slot;
producing a reference time signal;
inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
modulating a carrier frequency with the modu-lating format data; and transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots.
collecting blocks of incoming data;
assigning an error detection code to each block;
sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
inserting a time slot identification code in each time slot;
producing a reference time signal;
inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
modulating a carrier frequency with the modu-lating format data; and transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots.
33. A method for transmitting timing and paging information received from blocks of incoming data, each block comprising a pager identification num-ber and a message selector, during assigned time slots, comprising:
collecting blocks of incoming data;
assigning an error detection code to each block;
sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
appending an end of message code after the last block in each time slot which is not filled;
inserting a time slot identification code at the beginning of each time slot;
producing a reference time signal;
inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
modulating a carrier frequency with the modu-lating format data; and transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots.
collecting blocks of incoming data;
assigning an error detection code to each block;
sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
appending an end of message code after the last block in each time slot which is not filled;
inserting a time slot identification code at the beginning of each time slot;
producing a reference time signal;
inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
modulating a carrier frequency with the modu-lating format data; and transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots.
34. A method for transmitting and receiving timing and paging information received from blocks of incoming data, each block comprising a pager identifi-cation number and a message selector, during assigned time slots, comprising:
collecting blocks of incoming data;
assigning an error detection code to each block;
sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
appending an end of message code after the last block in each time slot which is not filled;
inserting a time slot identification code at the beginning of each time slot;
producing a reference time signal;
inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
modulating a carrier frequency with the modu-lating format data;
transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots;
supplying time slot power at a remote pager only during the assigned time slot;
tuning a receiver at a remote pager when time slot power is supplied;
receiving the transmitted signal at a remote pager when time slot power is supplied;
demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data when time slot power is supplied;
decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data when time slot power is supplied;
correcting any errors in each block of data utilizing the error detection code when time slot power is supplied;
comparing the transmitted time slot identifi-cation code to the pager's time slot identification code when time slot power is supplied;
correcting the time slot alignment of the pager if there is not a match of time slot identifica-tion codes when time slot power is supplied;
producing a constantly powered time indicat-ing signal;
displaying a constantly powered time in re-sponse to the time indicating signal;
synchronizing the time indicating signal with the reference time data when time slot power is supplied;
comparing the pager identification number address to each identification number address in each received block of data when time slot power is supplied;
producing an indicating signal if there is a match between the pager's identification number address and an identification number address in a block of data;
activating a message indicator in response to the message selector data; and removing the time slot power in response to the end of message code.
collecting blocks of incoming data;
assigning an error detection code to each block;
sorting the blocks by identification number into the assigned time slots;
appending an end of message code after the last block in each time slot which is not filled;
inserting a time slot identification code at the beginning of each time slot;
producing a reference time signal;
inserting the reference time signal in a first time slot;
converting the time slot data into modulating format data;
modulating a carrier frequency with the modu-lating format data;
transmitting the modulated carrier frequency during the assigned time slots;
supplying time slot power at a remote pager only during the assigned time slot;
tuning a receiver at a remote pager when time slot power is supplied;
receiving the transmitted signal at a remote pager when time slot power is supplied;
demodulating the transmitted signal to recover the modulating data when time slot power is supplied;
decoding the modulating data to recover the time slot data when time slot power is supplied;
correcting any errors in each block of data utilizing the error detection code when time slot power is supplied;
comparing the transmitted time slot identifi-cation code to the pager's time slot identification code when time slot power is supplied;
correcting the time slot alignment of the pager if there is not a match of time slot identifica-tion codes when time slot power is supplied;
producing a constantly powered time indicat-ing signal;
displaying a constantly powered time in re-sponse to the time indicating signal;
synchronizing the time indicating signal with the reference time data when time slot power is supplied;
comparing the pager identification number address to each identification number address in each received block of data when time slot power is supplied;
producing an indicating signal if there is a match between the pager's identification number address and an identification number address in a block of data;
activating a message indicator in response to the message selector data; and removing the time slot power in response to the end of message code.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US67860384A | 1984-12-05 | 1984-12-05 | |
| US678,603 | 1984-12-05 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1262385A true CA1262385A (en) | 1989-10-17 |
Family
ID=24723488
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000496881A Expired CA1262385A (en) | 1984-12-05 | 1985-12-04 | Pager watch system utilizing time slot communication |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0184606A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS61136330A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1262385A (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8800760A1 (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1183035B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5536078A (en) * | 1992-12-07 | 1996-07-16 | Novikoff, Inc. | Modular furniture system |
Families Citing this family (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2201266A (en) * | 1986-12-23 | 1988-08-24 | Upperpace Limited | A radio paging watch |
| US4817196A (en) * | 1987-01-02 | 1989-03-28 | Motorola, Inc. | Apparatus for tuning the antenna of a miniature personal communications device |
| WO1988005184A1 (en) * | 1987-01-02 | 1988-07-14 | Motorola, Inc. | Control interface for combined watch and pager functions |
| JP2546698B2 (en) * | 1987-01-02 | 1996-10-23 | モトローラ・インコーポレーテッド | Display control interface structure for electronic device |
| US4862516A (en) * | 1987-01-02 | 1989-08-29 | Motorola, Inc. | System for automatically tuning the antenna of a miniature portable communications device |
| CA2000683C (en) * | 1988-12-01 | 1993-04-13 | Walter Lee Davis | Power conservation method and apparatus for a portion of a predetermined signal |
| IT1231784B (en) * | 1989-05-15 | 1992-01-14 | Telesia Spa | PERSONAL PORTABLE DEVICE FOR RECEPTION AND PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION TRANSMITTED VIA RADIO, INTEGRATED WITH CLOCK |
| FR2682247B1 (en) * | 1991-10-04 | 1994-12-09 | Telecom Systemes Mobiles | RADIO MESSAGING AND RECEIVER INSTALLATION FOR SUCH AN INSTALLATION. |
| FR2701583B1 (en) * | 1993-02-10 | 1995-09-22 | Crde | INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEM ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO PEOPLE WITH REDUCED SENSORY FUNCTIONS. |
| DE29506668U1 (en) * | 1995-04-11 | 1995-06-14 | Rotring International Gmbh & Co Kg, 22525 Hamburg | Writing instrument with integrated radio signal device |
| DE19712914A1 (en) * | 1997-03-27 | 1998-10-01 | Junghans Uhren Gmbh | Information display method e.g. for stock-market information |
| GB2407223B (en) * | 2003-10-16 | 2006-06-07 | Nokia Corp | Reduced power consumption |
| WO2005039079A1 (en) | 2003-10-16 | 2005-04-28 | Nokia Corporation | Reduced power consumption |
| US8796882B2 (en) | 2009-06-04 | 2014-08-05 | Qualcomm Incorporated | System and method for supplying power on demand to a dynamic load |
Family Cites Families (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3861134A (en) * | 1972-12-15 | 1975-01-21 | Johnson Service Co | Remote time clock system with standby power means |
| DE2425254C3 (en) * | 1973-05-28 | 1980-11-20 | Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., Tokio | Portable electronic watch |
| JPS5426325B2 (en) * | 1974-03-01 | 1979-09-03 | ||
| JPS5744264B2 (en) * | 1975-01-24 | 1982-09-20 | ||
| DE2606691C3 (en) * | 1976-02-19 | 1979-05-03 | Bjoern 3100 Celle Bluethgen | Message communication system, in particular paging system |
| JPS588194B2 (en) * | 1977-12-12 | 1983-02-15 | 日本放送協会 | Color television signal processing equipment |
| DE2918531A1 (en) * | 1979-05-08 | 1980-11-13 | Provera Gmbh | Electronic alarm wrist watch - has change over switch between timing circuit and receiver driven by aerial |
| JPS5660336U (en) * | 1979-10-16 | 1981-05-22 | ||
| JPS5835414B2 (en) * | 1979-12-24 | 1983-08-02 | 日本電信電話株式会社 | Intermittent reception method for mobile radio equipment |
| JPS56136050A (en) * | 1980-03-28 | 1981-10-23 | Nec Corp | Individual selective call reception system |
| JPS5741044A (en) * | 1980-08-26 | 1982-03-06 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Selective calling communication system |
| JPS588194U (en) * | 1981-07-09 | 1983-01-19 | セイコーインスツルメンツ株式会社 | Electronic clock antenna device |
| US4745408A (en) * | 1983-04-09 | 1988-05-17 | Nec Corporation | Radio paging system and receiver therefor |
| EP0177971B1 (en) * | 1984-10-12 | 1993-01-13 | Nec Corporation | Pager receiver capable of controlling an internal state by a call signal |
-
1985
- 1985-06-20 EP EP85107635A patent/EP0184606A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1985-08-15 JP JP60178706A patent/JPS61136330A/en active Granted
- 1985-12-03 IT IT48870/85A patent/IT1183035B/en active
- 1985-12-04 ES ES549571A patent/ES8800760A1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-12-04 CA CA000496881A patent/CA1262385A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5536078A (en) * | 1992-12-07 | 1996-07-16 | Novikoff, Inc. | Modular furniture system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ES549571A0 (en) | 1987-11-16 |
| JPH0588574B2 (en) | 1993-12-22 |
| JPS61136330A (en) | 1986-06-24 |
| EP0184606A2 (en) | 1986-06-18 |
| IT8548870A0 (en) | 1985-12-03 |
| IT1183035B (en) | 1987-10-05 |
| EP0184606A3 (en) | 1988-03-30 |
| ES8800760A1 (en) | 1987-11-16 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US5150954A (en) | Pager watch system utilizing time slot communication | |
| CA1262385A (en) | Pager watch system utilizing time slot communication | |
| KR0185004B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for energy conservation in a communication system | |
| US4543657A (en) | Synchronizing of clocks | |
| US5363377A (en) | Communications system and receiver for use therein which indicates time based on a selected time message signal from a central station | |
| EP0650151A1 (en) | RF meter reading system | |
| EP1180696A3 (en) | System and method for locating mobile devices | |
| WO1991019357A1 (en) | Battery saving method and apparatus for providing selective receiver power switching | |
| AU692592B2 (en) | Time measurement in a communications system, a communications system and a receiver for use in such a system | |
| JP2977126B2 (en) | Personal message receiving device having independent information display means | |
| EP0619685B1 (en) | Timepiece for radio display pager synchronised to the local standard time | |
| WO1995020851A1 (en) | Automatic frequency control in a radio communication receiver | |
| US5148160A (en) | Radio communication apparatus for rapidly knowing whether the apparatus is within or out of a service area | |
| JP2001051077A (en) | Information output device for correcting time and automatic time correcting clock | |
| US20050036514A1 (en) | Radio controlled clock and method for retrieving time information from time signals | |
| US5396230A (en) | Pager with out of range detection by timing loss of synchronization | |
| US6298014B1 (en) | Time information management system | |
| CA2187063A1 (en) | Synchronization of a timepiece to a reference time | |
| JP4522525B2 (en) | Radio correction clock | |
| JP3409933B2 (en) | Wireless automatic meter reading system | |
| JP3439102B2 (en) | Radio-controlled clock and time display system | |
| JPH10145872A (en) | Radio transmitter/receiver for meter-reading | |
| JPH1063979A (en) | Radio transmitting device | |
| JP2959768B2 (en) | Synchronous communication device | |
| MY121567A (en) | Synchronization of a timepiece to a reference time. |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |