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`USOUSSBBDOQA
`
`United States Patent
` Will
`
`[191
`
`5,588,009
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`[54] PERSONAL PAGING, COMMUNICATIONS,
`AND LOCATJNG SYSTEM
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor. Craig A. Will, 37675 Fremont Blvd.
`No. 23, Fremont, Calif. 94-536
`
`[21] App1.No.: 191,111
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Feb. 3. 1994
`
`Int. Cl.6 --__.. Hit-LIL H18
`[51]
`[52] U..S C1.
`
`
`[58] Field of Search ....................... 371.332. 33; 45554.1,
`45553.1. 89; 379156 57
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`....... 367M
`
`411969 Ward .. 3671191
`3.439.320
`3.696.334 1031972 [ester ..
`3671199
`3.305.227
`471974 Lester ..
`3.305.265
`471974 Lester ..
`4.172.969
`11111979 Levine er. a].
`4.356.484 1071932 Bckhardl.
`......
`..
`
`....... 3591172
`7(1936 Shipley ........
`4.601.064
`
`.4551’89
`4.696.054
`971987 '13qu lat-111.
`4.775.996 10.11938 Emerson e181.
`.....
`379161
`
`
`.. 340182544
`4.323.123
`411989 Siwiak
`370.117
`1111990 Chen an.
`4.990.714
`
`3591’154
`11111991 Shipley
`5.062.151
`
`..... 379157
`5.151.930
`911992 Hag]
`1011992 Davis ..
`.. 340182544
`5.153.532
`
`1111993 Vajk m1.
`.......
`5.265.033
`3541514
`
`311995 Schwendeman
`5,395,537
`379157
`
`311995 Catnpana, 1r etal
`5.433.911
`37958
`.. 370194.]
`5.479.408
`1231995 Will
`
`. 4551261
`5.493.692
`211995 Themamtalmlt.‘
`5.526.401
`611996 Roach. Jr. etaJ.
`379159
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Stallings. William. Data and Computer Communications.
`Second Edition. MacMillan Publishing, 1988, pp. 107—112
`and 141-144.
`
`Weiscr, Mark. The Computer for the 2151' Century. pp.
`94404 Scientific American. Scp., 1991.
`
`Primary Examiner—Stephen M. Baker
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and apparatus for sending paging signals and
`messages to individuals within a building and accepting
`responses to the messages. Messages may be initiated by
`electronic mail. incoming telephone calls.
`incoming Fax
`messages, or other sources. Data is sent via radio to a
`communications unit carried by the individual and displayed
`visually together with possible responses. Each unit trans-
`mits its identity and responses or original messages when
`desired via coded infi‘ared light (or, in an alternative embodi-
`ment. ultrasound] to one or more remote stations located in
`rooms or along corridors of the building. A remote station
`relays data to acenh'al station via wircoroptical fiber. which
`tracks the location of units and delivers messages. Commu-
`nication units are clipped to the clothing of users and can be
`incorporated into a corporate employee identification badge.
`The hybrid radio-infrared light approach combines the
`broad. reliable characteristics of radio communication with
`the ability ofinl‘rared light to allow each unit to be located.
`This allows highly reliable delivery of messages via an
`acknowledgement and retransmission protocol.
`two-way
`communication with the individual. and capabilities [such as
`time for transferring incoming telephone calls) that require
`the location of the individual to be known.
`
`25 Claims, 26 Drawing Sheets
`
`1
`
`EMNL
`NETWORK
`
`
`TELEPHONE
`NETWORK
`
` CENTRAL
`PABX
`CONTROL
`
`STATION
`.OMM/l/
`
`INFRARED
`OR
`
`ULTRASOUND
`U—IT
`
`APPLE 1005
`
`APPLE 1005
`
`1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`
` EMAIL
`EMAIL
`NETWORK
`SERVER
`
`
`3
`
`
`TELEPHONE
`PABX
`CENTRAL
`NETWORK
`CONTROL
`STATION
`
`
`
`INFRARED
`OR
`
`ULTRASOUW6
`
`
`
`15
`
`16
`
`FIG. 2
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24,1996
`
`Sheet 2 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
` 23
`
`FSK
`DETECTOR
`
`RADIO
`RECEIVER
`
`27
`
`24
`
`ASYNCH
`
`RECEIVER
`
`FREQ DIV
`COUNTERS
`
`ASYNCH
`XMTFI
`
`DRIVER
`
`MICROPROCESSOR
`
`
`
`
`
`I
`. fl
`
`RAM
`
`33
`
`ENCODER
`
`29
`
`30
`
`37
`
`AUDITORY BIT,
`AMP & SPKR
`
`FIG. 3
`
`INFRARED
`EMITTER
`
`36
`
`31
`
`LCD
`DISPLAY
`
`34
`o CONTROL KEY
`
`32
`
`THUMB-
`
`WHEEL
`
`3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`INFRARED EMITI‘ERSR
`
`RING f URGENT
`40
`LAMP
`COMMUNICATIONS
`LAMP 43
`
`
`
`
`
`LIQUID
`CRYSTAL
`DISPLAY
`
`CURSOR ‘--—E
`
`45
`
`
`
`49
`
`THUMBWHEEL
`
`SPEAKER
`
`40
`
`51
`
`\ 5
`
`3
`
`EMPLOYEE
`
`12345-6789
`George M. Danby
`
`W53
`
`CLIP
`
`/ INFRARED EMI'I'I'ERS
`
`
`Weight: 165
`
`Eyes: Brown
`Height: 5‘ 9"
`
`
`
`
`BATTERY
`ACCESS
`
`FIG. 5
`
`FIG. 6
`
`4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec.24, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`FORMAT OF MESSAGE
`
`
`85
`
`PACKET
`
`FIG 7
`
`CFIC
`
`
`
`UNIT ID K
`
`PACKET SEQ NOK
`
`a1
`
`32
`
`FIG, 8
`
`PACKET
`PE
`
`TY
`
`PACKET
`PRIORITY
`
`FORMAT OF INPUT ACKNOWLEDGE PACKET
`88
`
`
`
`95
`
`PACKET
`TYPE
`
`INPUT on
`ID ACK
`
`UNUSED
`
`FIG. 9
`
`FORMAT OF ACKACK PACKET
`
`
`
`UNIT ID
`
`PACKET SEQ NO.
`
`TYPE UNUSED
`
`FIG. 10
`
`5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`106
`
`103
`
`FORMAT OF CONFIRM DATA PACKET
`
`110
`
`114
`
`115
`
`
`
`PACKET
`TYPE
`
`UNUSED
`
`URG. PKT
`SEQ. NO
`
`HIGH PKT
`SEO. NO
`
`NORM PKT
`SEQ. N0
`
`TIME
`SINCE FIESP
`
`CR0 EDT
`
`UNIT1D\_109
`
`
`
`FIG. I]
`
`FORMAT OF PACKETS SENT
`FROM UNIT VIA INFRARED TO REMOTE STATION
`
`120121
`
`
`
`
`122
`
`124-126
`“l-
`ACK TYPE UNUSED
`
`HEADER 2' ID
`SEQUENCE
`
`INPUT DATA
`
`UNIT ID
`
`128
`
`SE PACKET
`QUEN E NO.
`
`ACK
`SEQUENC ES
`
`
`
`BEG OF ACK
`PKT SEQ. NO.
`
`LENGTH
`OF SEQ.
`
`: 133
`NUMBER
`_UMBER DATA gfl SEQUENCE
`INPUT DATA
`INPUT PACKET _HANNEL
`
`136
`
`137
`
`W T
`CODE
`1 39
`
`TYF' E OF
`COMPOSITION
`
`TEXT '“PUT
`
`
`
`1 40
`
`INPUT DATA
`FORMATS
`
`FIG. 12
`
`6
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`FORMAT OF POLL PACKET
`
`151
`
`152
`
`154
`
`15
`
`5
`
`
`
`mm-
`UNUSED \—<STATION ID
`
`153
`
`FIG. 13
`
`FORMAT OF PACKETS SENT
`
`FROM REMOTE STATION IN RESPONSE TO A POLL
`
`161
`
`NAK
`
`162
`
`163
`
`164
`
`165
`
`UNIT 1
`SUBPACKET
`
`UNIT 2
`SUBPACKEI'
`
`ALTERNATIVE
`
`FORMSOF
`
`PACKEI'
`
`166
`
`
`
`FORMAT OF SUBPACKET
`
`171
`
`172
`
`173
`
`
`
`
`
`ACK
`
`TYPE
`
`UNITID ;
`UNUSED
`
`1B1
`
`INPUT
`DATA
`
`1132
`
`163
`
`FIG. 14
`
`ELAPSED
`TIME
`
`HEADER!
`ID
`
`ELAPSED
`TIME
`
`ACK
`SEQ.
`
`178
`
`179
`
`INPUT
`DATA
`
`174
`
`175
`
`176.
`
`SIG.
`RELIAB.
`
`ETx
`
`
`
`177
`
`
`
`
`
`HEADER 1'
`10
`
`
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`FORMAT OF MESSAGE WITH RESPONSES
`
`'19?
`
`
`
`191
`
`192
`
`193
`
`194
`
`195
`
`Illa-x:-
`
`196
`
`198
`
`
`
`RESPONSE 1 RESPONSE 2
`
`RESPONSE 3
`
`FIG. 15
`
`FORMAT OF MESSAGE DEFINING PREPROGRAMMED
`
`RESPONSES, MESSAGES, AND EMAIL ADDRESSES
`
`
`
`DEFINITION
`CHARACTER
`
`ITEM 1
`
`I
`
`TE” 2
`
`”EM 3
`
`8
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 8 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR CENTRAL STATION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RESP. FROM
`
`
`
`REMOTE STN.
`
`
`OR TIMEOUT?
` PROCESS
`PABX MSG
`
`
`
`MSG FROM
`PABX?
`
`PROCESS RESP.
`
`MSG
`SEND ANOTHERKE
`
`
`
`TRANSMITTED
`MSG
`POLL PAC
`T
`
` TO PABX‘?
`
`WAITING FOR
`PABX?
`
`
`
`ANOTHER
`
`PACKET
`EMAIL MSG
`RECEIVED?
`
`218
`
`PROCESS EMAIL
`INPUT MSG
`
`
`
`
`PROCESS
`UNIT RESPONSE
`OR STATION POLL
`OUEU TIMEOUT
`
`
`EMAIL MSG
`TRANSMITTED?
`
`EMAIL MSG
`
`TO BE SENT?
`
`
`
`
`SEND IT
`
`FIG. 17
`
`9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 9 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`MODULE TO PROCESS RECEIVED EMAIL MESSAGE
`
`231
`
`241
`
`SEND ERROR
`N0
` USER
`ADDRESS
`
`LEG”?
`
`
`YES
`232
`
`RESPONSE
`MESSAGE
`
`m3
`
`MESSAGE FOR
`
`COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
`
`LOCATION
`
`REQUEST
`
`236
`
`INTO ARCHIVE
`
`MAINTAIN
`TABLES
`
`233
`
`237
`
`S SEND RESPONSE
`
`TEXT & RESPONSES
`238
`
`ASSIGN
`
`PRIORITY
`
`ASS IGN
`
`CHANNEL
`
`239
`
`240
`
`PLACE MESSAGE
`AND PACKETS
`INTO OUEUES
`
`
`
`.I.
`
`m3
`
`234
`
`235
`
`MODIFY
`TABLES
`
`SEND
`
`RESPONSE
`
`.3513
`
`F]G. 18
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 10 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`MODULE TO PROCESS RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM STATION
`
`251
`
`PACKET RECEIVED
`
`0
`
`
`RESPONSE
`FROM
`STATION
`
`252
`
`STATION
`TIMEOUT OR NAK
`
`o
`
`271
`
`255
`
`SELECT A
`POLL PACKET
`
`EXTRACT UNIT
`SUBPACKET
`FROM RESPONSE
`
`
`
`253
`
`Egigwg;
`
`CHANGED TO
`“CV'NG 3=
`RESPOND.
`
`
`
`
`ACK
`
`9
`INCLUDED.
`
`N0
`
`YES
`
`257
`
`
`TIMEOUT
`AFTER
`
`
`
`YES
`
`PACKET?
`
`
`
`REMOVE WAIT
`FOR ACR TAG
`
`25a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REMOVE HOLD
`
`0
`
`251
`
`FORMAT AND
`SEND IT
`
`GET AN ACK
`FOR ONE PACKET
`
`PUT ACKACKzS
`
`IN QUEU
`
`DELETE ORIG
`
`PACKET
`
`IF ANOTHER PKT
`IN MSG PUT IN QUEU
`
`
`
`266
`
`FIG. I 9
`
`259
`
`
`ENTER UNIT RESP.
`TIMEOUT IN TIME
`EVENT QUEU
`
`T0 FIG. 20 o
`
`257
`
`N0
`
`WAITING?
`
`253
`
`
`MOVE
`MOVE
`CON FIFIM DATA
`CONFIRM DATA
`
`
`
`PACKET T0
`PACKET TO
`
`
`QUEU G
`0U EU F
`
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 11 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`287
`
`GET INPUT DATA
`FOR ONE MESSAGE
`
`SEND INPUT
`
`
`MESSAGE
`INCLUDED?
`
`LAST
`INPUT
`=‘= 3%?
`PACKET
`
`NUMBER?
`
`MORE
`
`
`OF MSG
`
`REQSTD?
`
`
`ACK
`
`
`
`
`ANOTHER UNIT
`
`SUBPACKET?
`
`
`
`N0
`
`6)
`
`0 TO FIG. 19
`
`NO
`
`294
`
`PLACE MSG
`AND PACKETS
`INTO QUEUES
`
`INPUT DATA
`FOR MORE
`
`MSGS?
`
`
`FIG. 20
`
`12
`
`GET EMAIL
`ADDRESS
`
`292
`
`
`
`IF COMPRESSED
`
`EXPAND TO TEXT
`
`293
`
`PUT MSG & ADDR
`IN OUTPUT QUEU
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`12
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 12 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`MODULE INITIATED UPON COMPLETION
`
`OF RADIO PACKET TRANSMISSION
`
`301
`
`SELECT A
`
`NEW PACKET
`
`302
`
`306
`
`RECEIVING
`
`FORMAT AND
`
`SEND PACKET
`
`303
`
`3
`
`04
`
`PUT ANOTHER
`
`PACKET IN QUEU
`
`MOVE STATIONS
`
`TO POLL Ou EU A
`
`RING
`
`3
`
`‘35
`
`NOT
`RECEIVING
`
`
`
` PACKET
`OTHER
`PRIORITY
`
`
`
`TAG PKT
`TO HOLD
`
`310
`
`307
`
`YES$0
`
`303
`
`309
`
`CHANCE PKT PRIORITY
`
`TAG TO HOLD
`
`DELETE DUPLICATIONS
`
`“Egg; 33:3“
`
`@
`
`@313
`
`FIG. 21
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 13 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`CENTRAL STATION
`
`CLOCK INTERFIUPT MODULE
`
`INCFIEMENT
`
`321
`
`
`
`
`STN RESPONSE
`TIMER
`
`323
`
`
`SET STATION
`OTHER
`RESPONSE
`
`
`TIM EOUT FLAG
`
`
`INCREMENT
`SECOND
`
`CLOCK
`
`326
`
`327
`
` 1000 MS
`
`UPDATE TIME
`
`OF DAY
`
`SET TIME
`
`
`
`
`
`
`EVENT FLAG
`
`FIG. 22
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 14 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`CENTRAL STATION DATA STRUCTURES
`
`UNIT STATUS LIST
`
`330
`
`331
`
`UN IT ID
`
`UN IT
`STATUS
`
`OUTPUT
`PKT SEQ NO.
`
`URGENT
`
`HIGH
`
`INPUT PACKET NO.
`
`TIMEOF
`
`SIG.
`
`SIG.
`
`STATION ID CCWTACT-
`
`STAT'ON '0 CONTACT. AMP.
`STATION ID
`cONTAcT-
`P.
`
`TIME OF
`
`SIG.
`
`I,
`
`TIMEOF
`
`SIG.
`
`332
`
`333
`
`334
`
`335
`
`335
`
`337
`
`333
`
`339
`
`340
`
`341
`
`342
`
`343
`
`FIG. 23
`
`MESSAGE TO UNIT QUEU
`
`351
`
`UNIT ID
`
`MESSAGE TEXT
`
`352
`
`FIG. 24
`
`PACKET TO UNIT QUEUES (A To G)
`
`351
`
`362
`
`363
`
`364
`
`365
`
`365
`
`QUEUA
`
`”N'T‘D
`
`QUEU B
`
`QUEUC
`
`UNIT '0
`
`UNITID
`
`HOLD WAIT FOR NO. OF TR POINTER
`ACK BIT
`ATI'MPTD TO TEXT
`
`HOLD WAIT FOR NO. OF TR POINTEH
`BIT ACK BIT
`ATTMPTD T0 T
`
`ill 5
`
`HOLD wArr FOR NO.OI=TR POINTER
`BIT ACK BIT
`A'I-I'MPTD TO TEXT
`
`QUE” D
`
`“N” '0
`
`HOLD wAIT FOR NO. OF TR POINTER
`BIT
`ACK BIT
`ATTMPTD TO TEXT
`
`NO. OF TR POINTER
`A'ITM PTD T0 TEXT
`
`QUEU F
`
`UNIT 1D
`
`OUEU G
`
`UNIT ID
`
`HOLD
`BIT
`
`WAIT FOR
`ACK BIT
`
`NO. OF TR POINTER
`ATTMPTD TO TEXT
`
`HOLD
`BIT
`
`WAIT FOR
`ACK BIT
`
`NO. OF TR POINTER
`ATl'M PTD T0 TEXT
`
`FIG. 25
`
`15
`
`SEO NO.
`IF SENT
`
`SEQ N0.
`IF SENT
`SE NO.
`O
`IF SENT
`
`SEO NO.
`IF SENT
`
`SEQ NO.
`IF SENT
`
`SEQ NO.
`u: SENT
`
`SEQ NO.
`IF SENT
`
`15
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 15 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`CENTRAL STATION DATA STRUCTURES
`
`(CONTINUED)
`
`POLL QUEUES (A to C)
`
`373
`
`PTR
`
`PTR
`
`PTR
`
`EMAIL INCOMING MESSAGE QUEU
`
`381
`
`EMAIL ADDRESS
`
`
`
`EMAIL INCOMING MESSAGE ARCHIVE
`
`383
`
`384
`
`385
`
`
`
`PTR TO NEXT
`
`
`
`EMAIL OUTGOING MESSAGE QUEU
`
`386
`
`387
`
`388
`
`DESTINATION
`EMAIL ADDRESS
`
`ORIGINATOR'S
`EMAIL ADDRESS
`
`TEXT
`
`_
`
`FIG. 27
`
`
`
`16
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`16
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 16 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`CENTRAL STATION DATA STRUCTURES
`
`(CONTINUED)
`
`EMAIL ADDRESS TO UNIT ID MAP
`
`401
`
`402
`
`
`
`UNIT ID TO EMAIL ADDRESS MAP
`
`403
`
`40
`
`4
`
`
`
`CHANNEL TO EMAIL ADDRESS MAP
`
`405
`
`405
`
`407
`
`408
`
`CHANNEL
`
`ASSIGNED
`
`EMA“- ADDRESS
`
`PTR TO INCOMING EMAIL
`MESSAGE ARCHIVE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`17
`
`17
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 17 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`CENTRAL STATION DATA STRUCTURES
`
`(CONTINUED)
`
`PREPROGRAMMED RESPONSE LIST
`
`421
`
`
`
`422
`
`
`
`PREPROGRAMMED MESSAGE LIST
`
`423
`
`424
`
`M ESSAG E
`
`PREPROGRAMMED EMAIL ADDRESS LIST
`
`425
`
`426
`
`FIG. 30
`
`TIME EVENT QUEU
`
`427
`
`TIME OF FUTURE EVENT
`
`
`
`
`
`TYPE
`
`42
`430
`8
`429
`
`
`UNIT!
`STATION ID
`
`
`
`QUEU
`
`FIG. 31
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 18 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`COMMUNICATIONS UNIT USER INTERFACE
`
`42
`
`RING f URGENT
`LAMP
`
`CURSOR
`
`SPEAKER
`
`COMMUNICATIONS
`LAMP
`
`LIQUID
`CRYSTAL
`DISPLAY
`
`
`
`
`THUMBWHEEL
`
`FIG. 32
`
`451
`
`
`
`
`<Has the Peterson
`
`contract been 5igned?>
`es]
`No]
`[Don't know]
`
`
`--Go to responses--
`
`
`--Go to messa-es—
`
`
`
`KEY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`High Voicemail Fax
`Unread Print Ftcvr
`--Go to responses—
`--Go to messages—
`—Go to compose—
`-Go to commands——
`«Has the Peterson
`
`
`fr— 452
`
`
`
`
`453
`
`
`
`
`
`“ RING Interrupt “
`X5349 calling: Smith.G
`
`
`—Send to voioemail--
`--Transfer to this ext--
`-Transfer to new ext-~-
`
`
`UNIT lN RM 241:
`Younger, C. X5410
`
`
`
`455
`
`
`—-Go to compose—
`
`{Come by my office}
`
`{Please call me}
`—} {Can we have lunch}
`
`
`Call me tomorrow}
`I‘m very busy today}
`
`
`{Call my secretary}
`
`
`
`
`454
`
`
`
` Don‘t understand]
`No]
`
`[YES]
`
`[Read and understood]
`
`[Will do]
`[Please call me
`
`
`
`Return to disp
`
`
`
`Iay-
`
`
`456
`
` This is text of messa
`-DON E—
`"CLEAR--
`—BACKSPAC E—
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 33
`
`19
`
`19
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec.
`
`24, 1996
`
`Sheet 19 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE
`
`FOR COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
`
`START
`
`PACKET
`
`RECEIVED?
`
`PROCESS
`RECEIVED
`PACKET
`
`REDISPLAY
`
`TEXT
`
`PROCESS
`
`KEYPRESS
`
`TIME TO
`
`TRANSMIT?
`
`SEND A
`
`PACK ET
`
`ALARM
`
`INDICATOR?
`
`CHANGE LAMP
`
`OR AUDIBLE
`
`FIG. 34
`
`20
`
`20
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 20 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`START
`
`UNIT PACKET PROCESSING MODULE
`PART 1
`
`481
`
`
`PACKET
`
`
`CORRECT? NO
`
`
`482
`
`gig'cgéflg
`'
`
`'
`
`YES
`
`433
`
`m
`
`DELETE
`INPUT
`PACKET
`
`495
`YES
`INPUT
`REMAINING
`
`
`
`@ACKACK
`ACKLIST
`m3
`
`496
`
`SET FLAG
`TO THANSM IT
`
`FLICKER on
`TURN OFF
`COMM. LAMP
`
`497
`
`CALCULATE
`SIG. HELIAB.
`484
`
`INPUT
`494
`ACKNOWLEDGE
`DELETE PKT
`NO. FROM
`
`DATA
`
`CONHHM
`DATA
`
`DISPLAY—
`ABLE
`
`UNASSIGN ED TO MESSAGE
`
`
`STATUS?
`486 RETRANSMITTED
`MISSING
`PACKET
`
`PUT IN
`MAP
`
`0
`
`TO FIG. 36
`
`437
`
`DOES IT
`N0
`
`FIT IN MAP
`new
`
`YES
`
`491
`
`ENTER PACKET
`IN UNASSIGNED
`PA KB"
`
`S QUEU
`
`C
`
`«ma
`
`
`490
`ENTER PKT
`
`IN MAP
`DI SPLAYABLE
`
`
`PACKETS
`
`IN MAP?
` IF UNASSIGNED
`
`T0 FIG. 36
`PACKETS FIT,
`
`MOVE TO MAP
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 35
`
`
`
`21
`
`21
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1991.;
`
`Sheet 21 onG
`
`5,588,009
`
`UNIT PACKET PROCESSING MODULE
`
`PART 2
`
`511
`
`RING
`
`
`HIGH OR NORMAL
`
`
`PACKET
`PRIORITY?
`
`512
`
`YES
`
`
`N0
`
`
`
`520
`
`
`WERE
`
`PREVIOUS
`
`
`
`PKTS IN MSG
` IS ENTIRE
`
`RCVD?
`MSG IN 1ST
`PACKETJ
`
`
`
`FIRST
`PACKET
`
`IN MSG
`
`521
`
`DISCARD
`PACKET
`
`SET HIGH OFI
`
`UNREAD VARIABLE
`
`
`
`
`
`m TURN ON
`RING OH
`
`
`
`nmexu RGENT
`
`
`
`
`LAMP & Aun.
`FOLLOWUP
`FOLLOWUP
`
`
`
`
`MSG?
`ALARM
`
`
`
`
`
`515
`24
`
`TURN ON
`D s ENIEfie'flonv
`
`
`HINGIURGENT
`I FLA M
`
`LAMP & AUD.
`
`ALARM
`
`
`525
`
`
`13 RING
`INTERFIUPJ
`PENDING.
`
`“0
`
`
`
`
`FROM
`
`SAME
`
`
`CALLER?
`
`
`YES
`
`513
`
`EXTEND TIME
`0F INTERFIUPT
`DISPLAY
`
`DISPLAY new
`RING INTEFIFIUP
`MENU
`
`m3
`
`DONE
`
`PLACE PACKET
`“211:1 P335“
`Q
`
`SET FLAG
`T0 TRANSMIT
`
`526
`
`(m3
`
`F1G. 36
`
`519
`
`22
`
`22
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 22 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`START
`
`CLOCK INTEFIHUPT SOFTWARE
`FOR COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
`PART1
`
`
` 531
`SET THUMB-
`WHEEL FLAG
`
`532
`
`53
`
`DECR TRANSMIT
`TIMER
`
`537
`
`DECR AUDITORY
`
`
`
`ALARM TIMER
`
`
`T‘MEF‘?‘ FLAG aTIMER
`
`
`TRANSMIT
`AUDITORY
`
`TRANSMIT
`TIMER?
`FLAG
`
`538
`II
`
`D
`
`0
`
`539
`
`DECH STATE
`VARIABLE, SET
`
`
`
`IF SOUNDING
`TOGGLE
`OUTPUT BIT
`
`540
`
`
`
`1-7
`
`
`RING
`INDICATOR
`
`
`STATE?
`
`
`
`=3
`
`e
`
`553
`
`DECR. RING
`INDIC. TIMER
`
`
`
`
`RING
`
`
`INDICATOR
`=0
`TIMER?
`
`
`>o
`
`552
`
`IF URGENT SET
`PUT ON HOLD
`
`TOGGLE
`LAMP BIT
`
`555
`
`556
`
`DECR RING
`INDIC. STATE
`
`55?
`
`9
`
`TO FIG. 38
`
`o
`
`TO FIG. 38
`
`SH RING
`TIMER TO
`250 MS
`
`0
`
`T0 FIG. 33
`
`FIG. 37
`
`23
`
`23
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec.24,1996
`
`Sheet 23 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`0
`
`562
`
`DECR RING
`INTERRUF'T TIMER
`
`CLOCK INTERFIUPT SOFTWARE
`FOR COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
`PART 2
`
`
`
`RING
`
`INTERRUPT
`PENDING?
`
`553
`
`
`RING
`
`INTERRUPT
`
`TIMER?
`
`
`564
`
`RESTORE OLD
`DISPLAY
`
`566
`
`567
`
`
`
`
` 589
`
`585
`
`OTHER
`
`FUCKER
`
`INPU
`DATA
`SENT
`
`IF END OF FUCKER
`TURN LAMP OFF
`53
`7
`
`DECR INPUT
`DATA TIMER
`
`
`
`575
`
`SEI' URGENT
`TIMER TO
`1000 MS
`
`>0
`
`TUFIN LAMP
`BIT ON
`
`F7(}“38
`
`24
`
`24
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 24 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`COMMUNICATIONS UNIT DATA STRUCTURES
`INCOMPLETE MESSAGE PACKET MAP
`
`PACKET SLOTS IN MESSAGE
`
`PRIORITY /0
`
`SEQ. NUMBER
`7\ OF FIRST PACKET
`
`
`
`
`
`
`601
`
`602
`
`603
`
`EACH PACKET SLOT
`CONSISTS OF:
`
`604
`
`605
`
`FIG. 39
`
`BIT
`
`TO PACKET
`TEXT LIST
`
`PACKETS UNASSIGNED TO MESSAGES LIST
`
`PRIORITY
`
`PACKET SEQ. N0.
`
`pAcKET TEXT LIST
`
`POINTER TO
`
`
`
`PACKET TEXT LIST
`
`611
`
`612
`
`613
`
`$14
`
`615
`
`616
`
`I517
`
`m-so- —-
`
`618
`
`-— 1:10.41
`.—
`— PO'NTEHL'ST
`—
`
`25
`
`25
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 25 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`COMMUNICATIONS UNIT DATA STRUCTURES
`
`(CONTINUED)
`
`DISPLAY MEMORY STRUCTURES
`
`621
`STATUS INDICATORS &
`
`TOP LEVEL MENU
`
`RECEIVED
`MESSAGES
`
`
`
`PHEPFIOGRAMMED
`RESPONSES
`
`PTR To HCVD URG MSG
`
`DISPLAY WINDOW
`/
`
`DISPLAYED TEXT
`
`
`
`
`
`PREPROGRAMMED
`
`MESSAGES
`
`
`
`COM POSE
`MEN U
`
`
`
`
`\ POINTER LIST
`
`
`
`
`ELECTRONIC MAIL
`ADDRESSES
`
`COMMAND
`M ENU
`
`
`/ 623
`
`DISPLAY MEMORY
`
`F1G. 42
`
`522
`
`
`
`
`
`
`INPUT DATA OUEU
`
`TEXTI‘CODE TEXT OR
`TAG
`CODE
`
`
`
`PACKET ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 0U EU
`
`PACKETSEQ.NO-
`
`1—634
`
`UNIT TRANSMISSION BUFFER
`
`635
`
`636
`
`637
`
`638
`
`639
`
`HEADER
`
`UNIT ID
`
`INPUT DATA f ACK
`
`CRC
`
`EOT
`
`FIG. 43
`
`26
`
`26
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 24, 1996
`
`Sheet 26 of 26
`
`5,588,009
`
`REMOTE STATION SOFTWARE
`
`
`
`
`INFRARED
` 642
`PACKET
`
`INCORRECT
`RECEIVED?
`
`
`
`
`
`CORRECT
`
`
`
`B43
`
`
` PUT IN
`RECEIVED
`
`
`PACKETS 0U EU
`
`
`
`POLL
`RECEIVED ?
`
`
` AVAILABLE?
`
` 647
`RESPONSE PACKET
`
`SEND NAK
`CHARACTER
`
`INITIATE SENDING
`
`FIG. 44
`
`27
`
`27
`
`

`

`1
`
`2
`
`5,588,009
`
`PERSONAL FACING, COMMUNICATIONS,
`AND LOCATING SYSTEM
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application relates to a copending application sol}
`mitted by Craig A. Will entitled “Control of Miniature
`Personal Digital Assistant Using Menu and Thumbwheel."
`Ser. No. 08!423.690. filed Apr. 18. 1995. The application
`also relates to a copending application submitted by Craig A.
`Will entitled “Wireless Personal Paging, Communications,
`and Locating System“. Ser. No. 081200.065, filed Feb. 22.
`1994. now U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,408. issued Dec. 26. 1995.
`
`It]
`
`15
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to electronic communi—
`cation systems for sending signals selectively to portable
`receivers that provide an indication or alarm to specific
`individuals that is humanly perceptible. and further to sys—
`tems that indicate the location of individuals. It relates to the
`transmission of message data encoded as digital pulses
`modulating a radio wave to portable receivers. and also
`relates to the transmission of message data. identification.
`and location information using digital pulses optically. par-
`ticularly by infrared light. and acoustically. particularly by
`ultrasound. The invention further relates to the indication of
`incoming calls from a telephone PBX system and the
`forwarding and transfer of such cells.
`More specifically. the invention relates to a system for
`conu'nunicating with individuals in a building using digitally
`encoded radio in one direction and either infrared light or
`ultrasound in the other, with users receiving paging indica-
`tions and messages and being able to acknowledge and
`respond to messages and to originate messages, with the
`system also tracking the location of and providing commu—
`nications to allow users to transfer incoming telephone calls
`remotely.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A frequent difficulty in an office or similar environment is
`communicating with a particular individual when they are
`not in their office but still in thc building. This results not
`only in “telephone tag“ where people continue back-and-
`forth attempts to return telephone calls. but also in its
`physical analog where one person visits the ofiiec of another.
`only to find that person to be gone.
`One solution to this problem has been the increasingly
`widespread use of paging receivers, and such devices have
`become more and more miniaturized. Devices have been
`constructed. for example. that are the size of a credit card or
`that are included as pan of a watch. Such systems. however.
`are typically one-way. transmitting only a telephone number,
`perhaps an additional short numeric code. or possibly abrief
`alphanumeric message. and are designed for use outside a
`building.
`Within a building. there have been two general directions
`that system designs have taken. One is the use of radio
`paging systems within a building, which may be configured
`to allow receipt of electronic mail messages or to allow users
`to be notified that they have a call that they can then ask to
`he transferred to a nearby extension. For example. the Hagl
`invention (U.S. Pat. No. 5,151,930) transmits the fact of the
`incoming call and the telephone extension of the calling
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`El}
`
`28
`
`party by radio to a paging receiver, which indicates to the
`user that the call has come in and displays the number. The
`user then locates a telephone instrument and dials a code
`identifying the user. resulting in the incoming call being
`transferred to that instrument.
`
`The other direction is the use of automatic personal
`locating systems that detemtine where in a building an
`individual is. and that can automatically route a telephone
`call to the nearest extension. For example. the Ward inven—
`tion (U.S. Pat. No. 3.439.320) describes a system that uses
`ultrasonic sound (using a different frequency for each per-
`son) to track the location of individuals in a building so that
`telephone calls may be routed to them. A number of varia-
`tions exist using difl‘erent media. Thus. the Shipley inven-
`tions (US. Pat. Nos. 4.601.064 and 5.062.151) track the
`location of individuals that carry devices that repeatedly
`transmit a digital identifying code via infrared light that is
`then received by remote sensors installed in individual
`rooms of a building. with a central computer that pulls the
`remote sensors and determines the location of an individual.
`Telephone calls can then. if desired. be automatically for-
`warded to the individual by the PABX system. The indi-
`vidual can. using a switch on the identification device. turn
`off the forwarding action at a given time if it would he
`inconvenient
`
`These approaches have a number of drawbacks. One-way
`radio paging signals can fail to deliver a messages if the user
`is in an especially noisy environment, is in a “dead spot”
`resulting from metal shielding or other interference. or goes
`outside the range of the transmitter. While these difliculljes
`can be prevented by repeating all
`transmissions multiple
`times. this approach does not make efficient use of band-
`width and can also result in considerable delay in receipt of
`a paging signal or message. One-way communication also
`does not allow an originator to know whether a message has
`in fact been received by a user and read, or allow the user
`to respond. One-way systems that indicate to a user only that
`a call has come in require the user to find a telephone and
`dial sufficient digits to cause the call to be transferred. and
`typically require the caller to be placed on hold during this
`process. which may be annoying to the caller if the person
`being paged does not respond or takes along time to do so.
`Systems that automatically track the location of individu~
`als and automatically transfer incoming telephone calls to
`that location tend to be intrusive. because they necessarily
`cause a transfer even in circumstances that might be inap-
`propriate (such as transferring a call to an individual who is
`in an ofliee of someone he or she does not know well or who
`is in a group meeting that might be disturbed].
`The above difficulties are solved by the invention dis-
`closed here {and related inventions) by its provision of both
`(1) two-way communication and {2) automatic backing of
`the location of the individual. This combination allows
`responses to be sent which are chosen from a set provided
`with the original message. from a preprograrnmed set. or
`composed by the user. Selection or composition of responses
`is made easy by use of a thumbwheel that allows display of
`messages and responses and their choice by pressing a single
`key (as is described in a copending application). The com-
`munication and tracking system also makes possible the
`transfer of incoming telephone calls remotely by means of
`selection from a menu.
`
`The present invention provides both two-way conununi-
`cation and traeldng by making use of a hybrid communica-
`tion system with radio used for transmitting data to the user.
`and infrared light (or, in an alternative embodiment. ultra—
`
`28
`
`

`

`5,588,009
`
`3
`sonic sound) used for receiving data from the user. This
`hybrid system makes effective use of the strengths of each
`form of communication. Radio is used in one direction for
`broad coverage, ease of implementation, and relative reli-
`ability, while infrared light (or ultrasound) is used in the 5
`other direction (for acknowledgements. responses, original
`messages, and location tracking) because of its low power
`requirements. simplicity of design. small size of the neces—
`sary electronics. low cost, and its ability to determine lhe
`location of individuals (since infrared light and ultrasonic 1t]
`sound do not pass through walls}. Radio is also desirable
`because its use could allow the design of a paging receiver
`that works both with conventional paging systems when
`outside the building and.
`in addition. with the system
`described here when inside the building, using the same ts
`components.
`The use of this hybrid mix of communication media
`required the design or a communication protocol to fit the
`characteristics of the two media. The radio medium is
`characterized by good but not perfect reliability. and mod— 1“
`crate to substantial capacity, depending upon availability of
`particular bands and whether the station is licensed or
`unlicensed. The system is particularly applicable for use in
`the recently allocated 1,900 Mhz band for personal conunu—
`nications services for unlicensed use in a building. The 3
`infrared medium has somewhat
`limited capacity in this
`context because of the need for data to be transmitted
`repeatedly and because of the need to minimize drain on the
`battery and to minimize conflict with other nearby cornme-
`nication units. Ultrasound has a naturally low capacity 30
`resulting from its susceptibility to interference from echoes
`as the signal bounces oil” wells. floor, and ceiling. Both
`infrared, and, to a lesser extent. ultrasound. have somewhat
`variable reliability as the user moves from one room to
`another and as the unit changes position and orientation in 35
`that environmenL Infrared and ultrasound, are. of course,
`desirable because they do not easily penetrate walls and
`ceilings and thus allow reliable identification of the location
`of the unit.
`
`is
`One example of the requirements for the protocol
`illustrated by the fact that unlike more conventional proto~
`cols where data is transmitted and an acknowledgement
`signal is expected immediately if the data has been eon'ectly
`received, with this protocol data must be sent without
`waiting for immediate aclmowledgcmcnt of previous pack-
`ets. with data broken down into packets with assigned
`sequence numbers and both data and acknowledgement
`packets containing the appropriate numbers. This is neces—
`sary because with a hybrid system. one direction can be
`reliable at a time when the other is not. and vice-verse. Other
`characteristics of the protocol include modifying the rate of
`repeated transmissions from units and polling to and trans-
`missions from remote stations depending on the probability
`of expected responses and the user of indicators to signal to
`the user the status of the communication links. panicularly
`when communication is being impeded.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`:10
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`The goal of the method and apparatus disclosed here is to so
`provide a communications system that can send paging
`signals and brief messages to individuals within a building
`or complex of buildings. accept and deliver responses to
`these messages. and identify the location of individuals
`within the building.
`Individuals communicate with a central communications
`station by means of aminiature communications unit carried
`
`55
`
`29
`
`4
`by the individual that is typically about the size of a credit
`card and can be integrated into a wearable plastic corporate
`identification badge. The communications unit displays
`messages visually and can provide a visual andlor auditory
`alarm indicating the receipt of a message. Users can view
`messages and select or compose responses by means of a
`thumbwhecl rotating cylinder and key. The unit consists of
`a rrticroprocessor, a memory. a radio antenna and receiver, a
`speaker, a visual display. an [altered diode emitter. a thum-
`bwhecl and key, and visual and auditory indicators.
`Communication from the central communications station
`to each individual unit is carried out by frequency—shift-
`keyed digital radio. with a single radio transmitter and
`antenna typically used for a single building or building
`complex. Communication from each unit to the central
`communications station is carried out by a combination of
`infrared light and wire or optical fiber. Remote communi-
`cation stations that include an infrared light sensor are
`installed in individual rooms of the building and along
`corridors, and data is sent. from the unit first to a remote
`station by infrared and then forwarded to the central station
`by wire or optical fiber.
`The communications system is integrated into the tele-
`phone and electronic mail systems typically found in an
`oflice environment. A message may be generated as a result
`of a telephone ringing signal, the leaving of a voicemail
`message, or the receipt of an electronic mail message (either
`messages specifically intended to be sent to the remote unit
`or messages directed to the user’s nonnal electronic mail
`address, the latter particularly if the sender or topic of the
`message matches a description provided by the user).
`The system allows others (if desired by a user) to deter-
`mine the current physical location of the user by sending an
`appropriate “location query” electronic mail message, with
`the originator automatically receiving a return message
`indicating the last known location of the user. The system
`also allows information from the personal locating system to
`control the forwarding of an incoming telephone call to an
`appropriate extension.
`While users can compose any response to a message or an
`original message. the miniaturization of the communications
`unit tends to make character entry laborious, and the system
`is designed on the assumption that. responses usually involve
`the selection of' preprograrnmed responses included in the
`message, preprogranmted responses that can be selected
`from the memory of the unit. or very brief responses
`composed letter by letter. Examples of possible responses
`include “Message read and understood". “Will d ", ”Will
`call you back in 5 minutes", “Will call you tomorrow". etc.
`Responses are preferably selected or composed by means of
`a thembwheel and single key, which takes up little space.
`The thumbwbeel and key interface is described in detail in
`the copending application entitled “Control of Miniature
`Personal Digital Assistant Using Menu and Thumbwhecl.”
`The system uses a communication protocol designed for
`the special characteristics of a hybrid radio-infrared light
`system. It is assumed that the radio link is usually highly
`reliable. but that occasional errors and outages may occur
`due to electromagnetic interference, metal shielding. or
`movement of the user outside of the range of reception.
`Messages are transmitted or held at any given moment
`depending upon the status of the communication unit and the
`priority of the message Units are in one of five status states:
`{1) Receiving and Responding:
`(2} Not Receiving but
`Responding; (3} Not Receiving or Responding; (4} Receiv-
`ing but Not Responding; or (5) Not. Responding. depending
`
`29
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`5,588,009
`
`5
`upon the conditions of the last response received from a unit.
`Thus, for example, Ring messages {resulting from incoming
`telephone calls) are not transmitted to a unit that is Not
`Receiving or Responding (and thus likely out of the build
`ing). but if caller identification information is available for
`the call, the message is stored so that the user is informed of
`the call upon returning to the building.
`Data transmitted both to and from the communications
`unit is error checked, with correct receipt ensured by retrain-
`mission. However, because the communications medium is
`difi'ercnt (radio versus infrared light) in different directions,
`it is frequently the case that at any particular time, the
`communications circuit is reliable in only one direction.
`Instead of the usual transmission-acknowledgccr—timcout—
`retransmission protocol, data is sent in the form of short
`packets. with each packet given a. sequence number. Packets
`continue to be sent even without aclmowtedgernent if there
`is reason to believe that a unit may be receiving. Acknowl-
`edgements are sent. with the corresponding packet sequence
`number when each packet has been received. If an acknowl—
`edgement has not been received from a unit under conditions
`that suggest that such an aclenowledgcment would have been
`received if the original packet had been received correctly,
`that packet is retransmitted. Acknowledgements are them-
`selves acknowledged by a packet sent to the unit via radio
`that results in reducing the amount