United States Patent
`
`[191
`
`Nelson et al.
`
`[11]
`
`[453
`
`Patent Number:
`
`4,314,763
`
`Date of Patent: Mar. 21, 1989
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`213888‘!
`
`3/1979 Fed. Rep. of Germany
`
`340x’31l.1
`
`Primary Exammer—Geralcl L. Brigance
`Attorney, Agent. or F:'rm—Vincent B. Ingrassia;
`Anthony .T. Sarli, J'r.; Donald B. Southard
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Apparatus and method is disclosed for automatically, or
`by selective response. call forwarding a message to one
`or more system pagers which have an acknowledge
`back capability.
`In one embodiment, disclosed apparatus automatically
`forwards a message to another system pager upon the
`initially called pager
`failing to acknowledge back
`within a predetermined time period. Such other pager is
`determined from a set paging hierarchy included within
`the paging terminal apparatus itself.
`In another embodiment. wherein the system pagers
`have multiple acknowledge back response capability, a
`called pager can request the received message be addi-
`tionally call forwarded to one or more other system
`pagers in accordance with the particular acknowledge
`back response chosen by the called pager user.
`
`32 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`[54]
`
`PAGING TERMINAL APPARATUS WITH
`PAGE FORWARDLNG CAPABILITY AND
`METHODOLOGY THEREOF
`
`i751
`
`Inventors:
`
`Leonard E. Nelson; Victoria A.
`Leonardo, both of Boynton Beach;
`Walter J. Grandfield, Lake Worth,
`all of Fla.
`
`Assignee:
`
`Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.
`
`Appl. No.: 132,825
`Filed:
`Dec. 14, 1987
`
`Int. Cl.‘ ............................................. .. H04!) 7/G0
`U.S. Cl. ........................ .. 340/825.44; 340/825.48;
`340/311.1; 379/56; 379/210
`Field of Search .................... .. 34-O/325.44, 825.47,
`340/311.1, 312, 313; 379/56, 57, 211, 210
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4-/1970 Halaby .............................. .. 3T9/2l0
`3,506,791
`1/1982 Jordan et al.
`.
`.... .. 3'J'9K2ll
`4,313,035
`2/1937 Engel et :1].
`. 34-0/825.4-4
`4,646,032
`4,649,385 3/ 1987
`.... .. 3T9/210
`4,661,972 4/1987
`379/56
`4.14-0,788 4/1988
`.... .. 379/2ll
`4-.T4T,l22
`5/1933
`340K825.-1-4
`
`
`
`[7331
`
`[21]
`
`[22]
`
`[51]
`I52]
`
`[53]
`
`[55]
`
`FACING
`CONTROLLER
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`U.S. Patent Mar. 21, 1939
`
`Sheet 3 of 11
`
`4,814,763
`
`70
`
`71
`
`HOLD ACKBACK LATCH RESET
`
`FIG. 4
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`72
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`STORE END OF MESSAGE BLOCK
`
`GENERATE SHORT ALERT TONE
`
`RELEASE ACKBACK LATCH RESET
`
`DELAY FOR USE? RESPONSE
`
`START QUERY RESPONSE TIMER
`
`SAMPLE AND CORRELATE FOR
`QUERY DETECT
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`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 21, 1939
`
`Sheet 4 of 11
`
`4,814,763’
`
`INITIAUZE
`
`90
`
`PROMPT PAGE ORIGINATOR
`
`95
`
`TERMINATE INPUT
`ENTRY SESSION
`
`FOR PABER ID 6: MESSAGE
`
`
`
`103
`
`%
`
`105
`
`Nonnr omsmoa 11-N’
`PAGE was Amen
`
`we
`
`NONFY ORIGINATOR THAT
`PAGE WAS NOT ACK'D
`
`107
`
`FIG‘ 6
`
`
`
`USE NEW ADDRESS FROM
`romanlus HIERARCHY
`
`
`
`cum FOR AcKNO'flLEDGEMENT
`
`
`FORWARDING
`' D§ES5
`was
`
`5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Ma:-.21,1989
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`4,814,763
`
`' TO 60
`
`53
`
`
`
`TO 50 -
`T0 55 -
`To 52 -
`
`
`
`ADDRESS DECDDER
`ACKNOWLEDGE BACK
`ENCODER-CONTROLLER
`
`
`
`53°':| :| :1
`
`64'
`
`F] ‘7
`
`FIG. 8
`
`FROM 82
`
`
`
`SELECT ACK RESPONSE CODE
`
`TRAN5M|'|' ACK RESPONSE
`
`6
`
`

`
`US. Patent Mar. 21, 1939
`
`Sheet 6 of 11
`
`4,814,763
`
`INIHAUZE
`
`90
`
`112
`
`RECEIVED
`?
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`G
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`0 FIG..9A
`
`7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 21, 1939
`
`Sheet 7 of 11
`
`4,814,763
`
`9 B
`
`G 113
`
`3 111 Q
`
`NOTIFY ORIGINATOR THAT
`PAGE WAS AOKNOWLEDGED
`
`NOTIFY ORIGIMTOR THAT PAGE
`WAS NOT ACKN0‘I\'|.EDGED
`
`114-
`
`
`
`CALL
`
`FORWRDING
`
`REQUESTED
`
`YES
`
`"0
`
`SELECT FORWARDING ADDRESS
`FROM SUBSCRIBER LIST
`BASED UPON THE ACK REQUEST
`
`
`UPDATE ACTIVE PAGER ID
`1 NEW PAGER ID
`
`2 NEW FAGER ADDRESS
`
`3 SIGNATIRE ADDED TO MESSAGE
`
`
`NO AOK TO ORIGINATOR
`
`5 NEW TIME
`
`
`
`
`115
`
`116
`
`FIG. 9B
`
`8
`
`

`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`4,814,763
`
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`U.S. Patent Mar. 21, 1939
`
`, Sheet 10 of 11
`
`4,814,763
`
`SAMPLE RECEIVED DATA AND
`CORRELATE FOR ADDRESS DEF.
`
`FIG. 12
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent Mar. 21, 1939
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`4,814,763
`
`INHIAUZE
`
`I0 I0CD
`
`PROMPT PAGE ORIGINATOR
`FOR PACER ID 8: MESSAGE
`
`_
`
`GET ORIGINATORG RESPONSE
`
`225
`
`TERMINATE INPUT
`ENTRY SESSION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`VAUD
`P59? | 0
`ES
`
`NOTIFY mes ORIGINATOR
`THAT PAGE ID 15 INVALID
`
`USE NEW ADDRESS FROM
`FORWARDING HIERARCHY
`
`FIG. 14
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`
`1
`
`4,814,763
`
`PAGING TERNIINAL APPARATUS WITH PAGE
`FORWARDING CAPABILITY AND
`METHODOLOGY THEREOF
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to paging
`systems and. more particularly, to paging terminal ap-
`paratus which,
`in cooperation with paging receivers
`with acknowledge back capability, provides an auto-
`matic or selective page forwarding service at the elec-
`tion of the pager user.
`Present day paging systems are efficient, sophisti-
`cated in technology and serve well large numbers of
`users. As a result, such systems are relied upon more
`and more to reach particular individuals wearing such
`paging receivers and deliver critical and urgent mes-
`sages. Unfortunately, it cannot always be guaranteed
`that such messages for particular pagers will in fact be
`received when initially sent or intended. In the past,
`paging messages were sent without knowing whether
`users received them as intended or not. One way to
`overcome this, of course, is to request the pager wearer
`to call back the originator on the telephone to so advise
`him. One prior art system addressed the problem by
`simply periodically transmitting a message until the
`specific pager user called a particular telephone number
`to indicate receipt thereof so that the continuously
`transmitted message could be terminated. However,
`unless the particular pager user in fact calls the neces-
`sary telephone number, and even though it may have
`been received, the message continues to be periodically
`sent expending, and most certainly wasting, valuable
`system capacity.
`Another approach has been to provide the paging
`receivers themselves with an acknowledge back capa-
`bility which is activated, either manually or automati-
`cally, whenever their particular address is received and
`properly decoded. This assures that the pager is work-
`ing satisfactory and that the originator may be notified
`with a good deal of confidence that the message was
`very probably received as intended. No specific action
`on part of the pager is necessarily required.
`The above, of course, provides a substantial step
`towards assuring confidence in the reliability of the
`paging system. However, it does not address the prob-
`l regarding those instances in which acknowledge
`back is not perfected. It will readily be understood that
`the pager may be inoperative, the user may be out of
`effective signal range, or the pager may have been,
`accidentally or intentionally, turned off. Nevertheless,
`there are instances in which it is deemed imperative that
`the intended pager user be reached in one way or an-
`other. In the past, this type of emergency or otherwise
`demanding situation usually has resulted in the paging
`originator being forced to find some other pager user to
`notify and request he or she contact the non-responding
`user with some specific message. While this alternate
`plan of reaching the intended pager user may well be
`the only option available to the page originator, it has
`nevertheless been on a rather hit-or-miss basis and, in
`any event, has proven to be very inconvenient and time
`consuming for all concerned. The originator must find
`the identity of another pager user that can respond, then
`find that person’s pager ID, cause the page to be sent,
`and then wait for the hoped for response.
`
`[0
`
`I5
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`S5
`
`60
`
`65
`
`13
`
`2
`A more convenient and reliable arrangement is there-
`fore needed to improve response time and alleviate the
`burden to system users.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
`to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art paging
`systems in reaching an intended pager user under cer-
`tain operating conditions.
`A more particular object of the present invention is to
`provide appropriate methodology and apparatus for
`effecting automatic paging forwarding in a paging sys-
`[em with paging receivers having acknowledge back
`capability in accordance with a predetermined paging
`hierarchy, without further action being required on the
`part of the pager users themselves or the paging origina-
`tor.
`
`In practicing the invention, paging terminal appara-
`tus is provided for use with paging receivers having an
`acknowledge back capability, wherein paging messages
`initially intended for a particular called pager which
`fails to acknowledge back within a predetermined time
`period is automatically forwarded by the paging termi-
`nal apparatus to another pager within the system along
`with,
`if desired, an indication that
`the message was
`forwarded from the initially called pager. The other
`pager to whom the message is redirected is determined
`by the terminal apparatus from a subscriber list into
`which has been entered a predetermined set hierarchy,
`of alternate pager addresses.
`the system pagers are
`In another embodiment
`equipped with manual controls and are capable of multi-
`ple acknowledge back responses. Accordingly, the re-
`ceived message may be caused to be selectively re-
`routed (forwarded) to some other system pager or pag-
`ers by the initially cailed pager simply selecting the
`appropriate acknowledge back reference with the push
`of a button.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The features of the present invention which are be-
`lieved to be novel are set forth with particularity in the
`appended claims. The invention itself, however,
`to-
`gether with further objects and advantage thereof, may
`best be understood by reference to the accompanying
`drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a radio communication
`system in which one aspect of the present invention may
`be advantageously utilized;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a paging terminal and
`associated apparatus used to send addresses and mes-
`sages to the system pagers and which include the auto-
`matic and/or selective call forwarding feature of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a paging receiver with
`acknowledge back capability intended for operation in
`one embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart which describes the operation
`of the paging receiver of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a graphic representation of the timing dia-
`gram showing the relation between the “outbound"
`ages of the paging terminal and the “inbound" acknowl-
`edgments of the various system pagers;
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram that describes the operation
`of the paging terminal including the handling and auto-
`matic forwarding of paging messages in accordance
`with one embodiment of the present invention;
`
`13
`
`

`
`4,814-,':'63
`
`3
`FIG. ‘.3 is a partial block diagram of a paging receiver
`with acknowledge back capability differing from the
`receiver shown in FIG. 4 for use with another e of the
`invention;
`FIG. 8 is flow chart which describes the difference in
`operation of the paging receiver of FIG. 7;
`FIG. SIA and 9B are a flow chart which describes the
`
`differences in the operation of the terminal apparatus to
`provide another embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 10 is a graphic representation of the timing
`diagram showing the relationship between “outbour1d"
`pager of the paging terminal and the “inbound" ac-
`knowledgment of the pagers regarding the second em-
`bodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a paging receiver with
`automatic acknowledge back capability intended for
`operation in another embodiment of the present inven-
`tion;
`FIG. 12 is a flow chart which describes the operation
`of the paging receiver of FIG. 11;
`FIG. 13 is a graphic representation of the timing
`diagram showing the relation between the “outbound"
`pages of the paging terminal and the “inbound” auto-
`matic acknowledgments of the various system pagers;
`and
`
`FIG. 14 is a flow diagram that describes the operation
`of the paging terminal including the handling and auto-
`matic forwarding of paging messages in accordance
`with another embodiment of the present invention.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring now to the drawings, a radio communica-
`tions paging system 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in which the
`present invention may be advantageously utilized. The
`paging system includes terminal apparatus, shown gen-
`erally at reference 20, and a plurality of paging receiv-
`ers, indicated at 12, as illustrated. It is intended that the
`associated paging receivers be capable of and provide
`an acknowledge back feature upon receiving and recog-
`nizing certain transmitted information. Pagers of this
`character are. of course, known in the art and include an
`acknowledge back encoder 14 as indicated for activa-
`tion, manually or automatically, when the paging re-
`ceiver 12 receives and recognizes at least its particular
`address. A more detailed description will be set forth in
`connection with FIG. 3 for the system pager function
`and operation.
`The terminal apparatus 20 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in
`greater detail in FIG. 2 together with the associated
`auxiliary equipment and the paging files intended to be
`generated and maintained to effect the advantages of
`the present invention. As therein shown, terminal appa-
`ratus 20 includes a paging controller 22 which also
`includes an address and data encoder 24 and an ac-
`knowledge back decoder 26. Associated with the pag-
`ing controller is an entry device 3|), a real time clock 32
`as well as a transmitter 34 and receiver 36 operating in
`connection with an antenna 38 and an antenna switch
`40. Although a switch is shown as 4-0. a duplexer may
`also be used. A duplexer is a transmission line device
`which permits the use of a single antenna for simulta-
`neous transmission and reception. The use of a. duplexer
`for simultaneous transmission and reception of informa-
`tion is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
`Entry device 30 is used to access the paging control-
`ler 22 to enter pager ID’s (identification numbers) and
`messages intended therefor for subsequent transmission.
`
`ll]
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`-1-5
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`The entry device 30 as shown is a video display terminal
`which is useful for entering alphanumeric messages. and
`for accessing and updating a subscriber list 42. Sub-
`scriber list 42 is a list of all the pagers ID’s that are valid
`in the system 10. Filed under each pager ID in the sub-
`scriber list 42 are several items that will be needed by
`the paging controller 22 to send. or transmit, a page.
`including such information as pager type (acknowledge
`back or nonacknowledge back).
`the particular pager
`address which corresponds to the pager ID, as well as a
`particular
`forwarding address hierarchy, details of
`which will be described in more detail subsequently.
`As may be appreciated, paging controller 22 is the
`essential heart of the system 10 and controls the opera-
`tion of the other associated elements of the paging ter-
`minal apparatus. In addition to subscriber list 42, main-
`tained by controller 22, an active page file 44 is also
`maintained and comprises a temporary file containing
`information about the pages being processed by the
`terminal apparatus 20. The active page file 44 includes
`at least the pager identification or ID, address. message,
`time, and may include whether the originator is notified
`of the received acknowledgment. A real time clock 32 is
`used to supply timing information to the paging control-
`ler and for time stamping of the messages in active page
`iile 44.
`
`The address and data encoder 24 accepts addresses
`and messages supplied to the paging controller 22 by
`the entry device 30. Address and data encoder 22 then
`converts this supplied information to the actual trans-
`mitted bit patterns in a manner well understood by
`those skilled in the art. These bit patterns are subse-
`quently transmitted by transmitter 34 through antenna
`switch 4-0 and to antenna 38 which radiates the signal
`energy to the system pagers 12. The “Ack-Back" de-
`coder 26 then detects and processes any acknowledg-
`ments returned by the system pagers 12 and provides
`this information to the paging controller 22. While
`transmitter 34 modulates an RF carrier frequency with
`outbound addresses and messages, the receiver 36 de-
`modulates the inbound modulated RF carrier frequency
`and supplies recovered data to decoder 26.
`Upon transmitting an address and an intended mes-
`sage for a particular pager 12, an acknowledgment is
`sent back by that pager and received by paging control-
`ler 22. If an address message for a particular paging
`receiver 12 is transmitted and an acknowledgment back
`is not received within a predetermined period of time.
`the message intended for that particular receiver 12, in
`one embodiment of the present invention, is forwarded
`to another pager within the system. The identity of that
`other pager is determined by the terminal apparatus
`from a set hierarchy of alternate pagers as entered into
`the subscriber list 42 as associated with the initial pager
`failing to acknowledge back.
`The block diagram of the paging receiver 12 is shown
`in FIG. 3 and a flow diagram that describes this opera-
`tion is illustrated in FIG. 4-. The pager 12 with acknowl-
`edge back capability (ltereinafter “Ack-Back"), as illus-
`trated. consists of an RF section 50 and a transmitter
`section 52. RF signals are coupled to and from the re-
`ceiver and transmitter sections 50/52 via an antenna 54
`and antenna switch 56. Normally. ack-back pager 12 is
`operated in the receive mode, and the demodulated data
`output of the pager receiver Section 50 is coupled to an
`included paging address decoder 58. In addition, an
`ack-back latch 64 is included, coupled to the address
`
`14
`
`14
`
`

`
`5
`decoder 58 at Q and R, with a manual push button 66
`between S and ground, as shown.
`As indicated in the How chart of FIG. 4, following
`the initialize step 70 the address decoder 58 initially
`holds the ack-back latch 64 in the reset condition while
`address decoder 58 examines the recovered data look-
`ing for a unique selective calling signal or address at
`steps 72 and 73 that is assigned to pager 12. This unique
`address is a precursor for any alphanumeric or voice
`messages that may be directed to the pager. Once the
`address has been detected at step 73, the paging address
`decoder 58 performs appropriate message decoding on
`the data that follows the address.
`The message decoding itself is performed in program
`flow steps 74 through 76 in the conventional manner
`understood by those skilled in the art and it is deemed
`unnecessary to describe the satne in further detail at this
`point for that reason and, further, because it is not a
`critical matter to an understanding of the present inven-
`tion Once a complete message has been received, the
`paging decoder 58 generates an alert tone and routes
`this alert tone to the receiver transducer 60. The paging
`decoder 58 also stores the messages in memory so that
`a page wearer can recall these messages later for view-
`ing on display 62 in the usual manner.
`Paging decoder 58 holds the ack-back latch 64 in the
`reset condition until the alert tone is generated and then
`releases the latch at step 78. The pager user at step 79 is
`then given the opportunity to acknowledge back the
`message by pressing the ack-back response button 66,
`which will then set the latch. The decoder 58, after a
`short delay. looks for a query signal transmitted by
`terminal apparatus 20.
`If the pager user presses aclt-back response button 66
`before the query signal, sent by terminal apparatus 29, is
`detected, the paging decoder 58 will upon such detec-
`tion at step 82, key the transmitter 52, modulate it with
`the ack-back response signal, and direct the transmit
`output signal to the antenna 54 through antenna switch
`56. It is to be understood that if the message is not re-
`ceived by the pager user or such user elects not to ac-
`knowledge back, no ack-back response will be gener-
`ated and the message will be forwarded by the terminal
`apparatus 20 as will be described subsequently in accor-
`dance with the present invention.
`The timing diagram of FIG. 5 illustrates the relation-
`ship between the “outbound” signals transmitted from
`paging terminal apparatus 20 to the various system
`pagers 12, and the “inbound” signals from the pagers 12
`acknowledging back to the terminal apparatus. By way
`of example, in FIG. 5, pager “No. 1" does not acknowl-
`edge back after receiving its address following the mes-
`sage intended therefor. As a consequence, the message
`for pager no. 1 is then forwarded to pager no. 2, who is
`a member of pager no. 1’s hierarchy as set forth and
`entered into the subscriber list 42. It will be noted that
`the time period, or gap, 88 is provided between the
`sending of the message and the transmission of the refer-
`ence query which is intended specifically for pager user
`action, i.e. activation of manual push-button 66. It is to
`be understood that other addresses and/or messages
`could, of course, be sent during this time frame (gap 88),
`if so desired.
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`FIG. 5 also illustrates that, upon sending the address
`for pager no. 2, followed by the message for pager no.
`1, that the sequence is completed upon pager no. 2
`acknowledging back after the query signal is transmit-
`ted to indicate pager no. 2 received the message. FIG. 5
`
`65
`
`15
`
`4,814,763
`
`6
`also illustrates a normal page intended for pager no. 2,
`which also acknowledges back its reception.
`The means and the procedure for effecting the signal-
`ling procedure, as illustrated and described in FIG. 5
`are accomplished within, and by means of, the paging
`controller 22 of terminal apparatus 2|], as previously
`described. The procedure/protocol for accomplishing
`this is set forth with particularity in the flow diagram
`comprising FIG. 6. The operation begins with an initial-
`ize step 90, normally needed only at power up. Step 90
`is used to perform functions such as setting up the 1/0
`ports as inputs and outputs, clearing certain memory
`locations, and perhaps running a self-test.
`After completing the initial power up routine, paging
`controller 22 then prompts the page originator at step
`91 for a pager ID and message which may be entered by
`way of entry device 30, and then hitting a designated
`key (such as enter) on device 30. Paging controller 22
`then reads the originator's response at step 92 and looks
`for a matching pager ID in the subscriber list 42 at step
`93. If there is no matching ID, the controller 22 sends a
`message to entry device 31} at step 94 notifying the
`originator that the pager ID entered is invalid and the
`input session is terminated at step 95, whereupon paging
`controller 22 is returned to step 91 as illustrated. If a
`matching ID is found at step 93, a message is sent to
`entry device 39 notifying the page originator that the .
`page has in fact been accepted. at step 96.
`Once the page has been accepted by controller 22, it
`then sets up active page file 44 at step 9‘? which contains
`the pagers ID, the address to which the page will be
`sent, and the message attached to the page. The address
`corresponding to a particular pager’s ID is located in
`subscriber list 42. A pager’s address and ID may be
`identical, but generally they are not. Typically a pager
`has a three-digit pager ID but an address is perhaps six
`or seven digits in length. The time, of course, is obtained
`from real time clock 32.
`Next, the controller 22 consults subscriber list 4-2 at
`step 98 to determine if the pager being addressed is
`capable of an acknowledge back feature. If the pager
`being addressed is not one capable of such, the page is
`sent iinrnediately at step 99, whereupon the active page
`file entry 44 is deleted at step 100, and paging controller
`22 is returned to step 91 in the flow diagram, as illus-
`trated.
`If the pager being addressed is capable of acknowl-
`edging back, the address and message are transmitted at
`step 101. In performing the operations indicated at steps
`99 and 101, paging controller 22 may, for example, send
`information in the form of ASCII characters to the
`address and data encoder 24 where it is convened to the
`required binary digits and parity information is added
`before being applied to transmitter 34 for transmission.
`Following step 161, controller 22 waits for a mini-
`mum length of time at step 102 to allow the pager user
`to read the message and acknowledge back by activat-
`ing push button 66. The response signal is not sent im-
`mediately by the pager, as mentioned previously, but
`waits until a query signal is received from the terminal
`apparatus 22 at step 103. After the query signal is sent
`by pager controller 22, it turns transmitter 34 off. ena-
`bles receiver 36, connects antenna 38 to receiver 36 via
`antenna switch 40 and enables ack-back decoder 26 for
`a brief window. If the pager acknowledgment is re-
`ceived, indicated at step 104, a message is sent to the
`entry device 30 notifying the page originator that the
`page was in fact acknowledged and the Active File 44
`
`15
`
`

`
`7
`may then be deleted for that page at step 100. As indi-
`cated, the entry input session is terminated at step 95
`and a new input prompt cycle may be initiated.
`If the appropriate acknowledge back is not detected,
`paging controller 22 consults the subscriber iist 42 to
`ascertain a new forwarding address under the particular
`called, but unacknowledging, pager’s ID maintained in
`the active file 44. If a forwarding address can be found
`at step 106, the address to which it was sent initially will
`be changed to the new, forwarding address at step 107.
`Accordingly, the transmit cycle is reinitiated at step 98.
`If no acknowledgment back is appropriately received
`the process is repeated to determine if there is still a
`further forwarding address for yet another pager in the
`system hierarchal listing referenced in the subscriber list
`42. In the event one is found, the transmit cycle is again
`reinitiated as before.
`
`If there is no forwarding address found at step 106, a
`message will be sent to the entry device 30 at step 108.
`notifying the page originator that the page was in fact
`not acknowledged,
`the active page file 44 will be
`purged of the relevant information with regard thereto,
`at step 100, and the entry session deleted at step 95 as
`indicated. A new input prompt cycle may then be initi-
`ated as before.
`Another embodiment of the invention is set forth in
`
`FIGS. '3' through 10, wherein the pager user upon re-
`ceipt thereof may further selectively transfer the same
`to another pager user without further action, such as
`making a telephone call to reenter the message. An an
`example, a busy executive may receive a message he
`deems significant and wishes to share with a colleague,
`superior, subordinate or the like. It may also be a mes-
`sage that requires immediate action and he wishes to
`alert other members of his staff. A provision is made in
`this embodiment of the invention to add the signature of
`the forwarding party to the forwarded messages.
`In this embodiment, the pager receiver is the same as
`for the receiver shown in FIG. 3, except that it includes
`a provision for multiple acioback responses. This is
`shown in FIG. 7 in which a multiple Latch 64' includes
`S1, S2, and S3, set positions controlled by manual push
`buttons 66'a, 6659, and 66's.
`The operation of the paging receiver 12 is the same as
`referenced in the flowchart of FIG. 4 up through step
`84. As depicted in FIG. 8, assuming that the query
`signal has been received from terminal apparatus 20,
`and that ack-back latch 64’ has been set. at step 84, then
`the address decoder/acknowledge back controller 58
`selects the appropriate ack-back code at step 86, in
`accordance with what push-button 66a’, 6613' or 66c’ has
`been manipulated, and then transmitted back at step 3'.-'.
`Referring to FIG. 9, in the paging controller 22, the
`operation is essentially the same up through step 103
`which is described in FIG. 6. Specifically in FIG. 9, at
`step 109, if the ack-back response is not detected, the
`active page file is consulted at step 110 to see if an aclt
`to originator is required. Tliis step is necessary since the
`page originator has no control over whether a page will
`be selectively forwarded, and he is normally only inter-
`ested to know that the page was received by the original
`addressee. If the page originator is to be notified, a
`message is sent to the entry device at step 111 notifying
`the page originator that the page was not acknowl-
`edged, and then the active page file is deleted at step
`100, and the input session is terminated at step 95. If the
`originator is not to be notified (in the case of a for-
`
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`
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`
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`
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`warded page), the active page file is deleted at step 100.
`and the program {low returns to the input prompt state.
`If the page is acknowledged at step 109, the active
`page file is consulted at step 112 to see if the originator
`should be notified. If the originator is to be notified, a
`message is sent to the entry device at step 113 notifying
`the originator that the message was acknowledged. If
`this is a forwarded page. the program branches around
`step 113 to step 114.
`After a page acknowledgment has been received and
`proper notification has been made to the originator, the
`nature of the acknowledgment is determined at step
`114. Ack‘s can be simple acknowledgments as well as
`forwarding requests. If the acknowledgment is only a
`simple ack. the active page file will be deleted at step
`100 and the program flow returned to the input prompt
`state. However, if there is a forwarding request con-
`tained in the acknowledgment. the paging controller
`selects a forwarding address based upon this request
`from the subscriber list at step 115, and at step 116, the
`controller updates the active page file with a new pager
`ID, a new address, and a signature is added to the mes-
`sage indicating that the message was forwarded from
`the original addressee. This signature could be the name
`associated with the pager‘s ID contained in the sub-
`scriber list. In addition, a no ac]: to the originator is
`specified. After updating of the active page file,
`the
`program returns to step 98. A forwarded message is
`essentially just another page to the paging controller;
`however, a signature is added to the message each time
`it is forwarded.
`
`FIG. 10 references the various relationships that may
`be expected between “outbound" terminal signals and
`“inbound" signals from the system pagers. Illustrated is
`an example of these messages sent to those pagers which
`all duly acknowledged back. Push-button 66'a of FIG.
`7, when activated, results in response A, arbitrarily
`chosen to represent a simple acknowledge back with no
`call forwarding request. Similarly, response 13, associ-
`ated with push-button 66’b, is chosen to mean a request
`to forward the message to some additional predeter-
`mined pager user, and response C to mean a forwarding
`request to stiii a different but predetermined pager user.
`In the example given, the acknowledge back from
`pager no. 1 contains a request to forward the referenced
`message to some other pager user (Response “B” being
`indicated). The address of such pager is determined and
`the message for pager no. 1 is also sent to pager no. 2,
`who acknowledges back and also requests the refer-
`enced message to also be call forwarded to still another
`pager user (Response “C” being indicated). The con-
`troller 20 then determines the address of that still other
`pager user and sends out that address and the message
`for pager no. 1 to pager no. 3, who,
`in the