`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,940,963
`
`Gutman et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Jul. 10, 1990
`
`[54] PAGING SYSTEM WITH INIPROVED
`AcKNowLEI)GE.BAcI{ CAPABILITIES
`
`4,644,351
`4,811,379
`4,814,763
`
`2/1987 Zabarsky et al.
`............ .. 340/825.44
`
`3/1989 Grandfield
`. 340/825.44
`................ .. 340/825.44
`3/1989 Nelson et al.
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors:
`
`Jose Gutman, Boynton Beach; Steven
`C. Shapiro, Lake Worth, both of Fla.
`[73] Assignee: Motorola Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.
`[21] Appl. No.: 322,159
`[22] Filed:
`Mar. 10, 1989
`
`[56]v
`
`Primary Examiner—-Joseph A. Orsino
`i;Z$fn‘;rE.E;e°_ffrDSo1:;Erft§' Southard
`ABSTRACT
`,
`_
`_
`1
`[
`_
`A paging system compr1s1ng a centrally located termi-
`[51]
`Int. Cl.5 ............................................... H04Q 7/00
`rlal and a plurality of remote Pager units is disclosed
`[52] US. Cl. ................................. 8]:3§ 1'; wherein both automatic and manual acknowledge back
`‘
`';
`'all‘
`'
`'dd.A
`'
`kn
`1d
`[53] Field of Search ................ 340/311.1, 313, 325.44,
`ffffk sl‘;'fal‘Sb)}’2°31]:d pagzrafiflfifltazit ifiterfil inf:
`340/82547’ 825483 379/56’ 57
`cates the message was duly receivied and understood
`References Cited
`which is so indicated to the initiating caller. Failure to
`Us PATENT DOCUMENTS
`I'€S1Z‘)jO1I)ld 1v<vithin tltre set interval CiZ:.FSlf§ tll: pagerstériiirl
`,
`sen
`ac a nega ive response w 1c
`is 1 ew1se
`-
`4,172,969 10/1979 Levine et al.
`................ .. 340/825.44
`-
`-
`-
`-
`4,253,420 4/1981 Levine ......
`..._.... 379/57
`‘med t° the ‘nmmng °a“e"
`
`4,336,524 6/1982 Levine ......
`340/311.1
`5/1985 Burke et a1.
`.................... 340/825.49
`4,517,561
`
`57
`
`22 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`(__3OOGLE 1008
`
` 1
`
`GOOGLE 1008
`
`1
`
`
`
`Jul. 10, 1990
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`4,940,963
`
`F I G o 2- TERMINAL
`INTERFACE
`MODULE
`
`
`
`’US.Patent
`
`2
`
`
`
`93M_m._mSecs:Va:m._m.m.3ugmzsozvzzmaflJOWHm
`
`Dams2s
`9..mm3Hm1%.!Mdmm.m.
`
`_|SWV
`
`S
`
`
`
`
`
`O|.V.|IIIIllll‘IIIIIIulullll.IIIIIullll.
`
`5.m2AlmS
`
`9.,4
`
`3%
`
`M9~_o:3az_
`
`3
`
`3
`
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 10, 1990
`
`Sheet 3 of5
`
`4,940,963
`
`\I G
`
`RECHVE PAGER ADDRESS
`
`
`
`FIa.5
`
`TRANSMH AUTOMAHC
`PAGER RESPONSE
`
`76
`
`
`ALERT. R
`AU
`T0
`TURN
`K M
`INDI
`
`E CHANNEL
`PEA
`TH
`UAL
`OR
`
`
`
`ACK-
`RESPO
`
`
`
`
`TURN OFF THE ACK-BACK
`SPONSE
`MANUA
`INNCATOR
`TR N NH
`THE
`HRMAT
`MAN
`RESPONSE.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`86
`
`
`
`TURN OFF THE ACK-BACK
`MANUAL RESPONSE
`ATOR AND TRANSNH
`NEGAUVE MANUAL
`RESPONSE.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`Jul. 10, 1990
`
`Sheet 4 of5
`
`4,940,963
`
`RECHVE
`SYSTEM OUERY
`FOR THE ACK-BACK
`MANUAL
`RESPONSE
`9
`
`YES
`
`FIG.6‘
`
`86
`
`MIT
`
`
`
`TURN OFF» THE ACK-BACK
`MANUAL RESPONSE
`INDICATOR AND TR
`THE NEGATIV
`MANUAL RESPONSE.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TURN OFF THE ACK-BACK
`NUAL
`SPONSE
`TRANSMIT
`FFIRMATIVE
`THE
`MANUAL RESPONSE.
`
`IN
`
`
`
`
`ETURN T0 PAGING
`R mans IN
`snzu"
`rose A PREDETE
`an
`me
`
`QUERY THE ACK-BACK
`PAGER FOR A MANUAL
`RESPONSE.
`
`MONITOR RF CHANNEL
`FOR A PREDETERMINED TIME
`
`104a
`
`105
`
`106
`
`5
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 10,1990
`
`Sheet 5 of5
`
`I 4,940,963
`
`90
`
`START
`
`92
`
`'94
`
`TRANSMIT PAGER ADDRESS
`
`MONITOR RF CHANNEL FOR
`A PREDETERMINED TIME.
`
`F I G . 7
`
`104
`YES
`
`
`DETECT
`PAGER AUTOMATIC
`
`TRANSMIT VOICE
`MESSAGE To PAGER
`
`MONITOR RF CHANNEL FOR
`A PREDETERMINED TIME.
`
`
`
`YES
`
`DETECT
`PAGER WEARER
`ANUAL RESPONS
`
`YES
`
`IOO
`
`‘REPORT TO CALLER:
`PAGER NOT IN SERVICE
`
`m 102
`
`
`
`TIME "IS UP
`
`MONITOR
`
`
`
`YES
`
`112
`
`REPORT TO CALLER:
`NO RESPONSE RECEIVED
`OPTIONALLY, ALLOW
`
`RESENDING THE PAGE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`RECEIVED IN THE
`
`AFFIRMATIVE
`
`ms E “‘
`
`NO
`
`‘P
`
`
`REPORT TO CALLER:
`NEGATIVE RESPONSE RECEIVED
`
`120
`
`122
`
`
`
`REPORT TO CALLER:
`AFFIRMATIVE MESSAGE RECEIVED
`
`6
`
`
`
`4,940,963
`
`1
`
`PAGING SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED
`ACKNOWLEDGE-BACK CAPABILITIES
`
`' BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates in general to paging systems
`and more particularly to such systems with acknowl-
`edge-back capabilities. In the disclosed system an ar-
`rangement is provided to aid the wearer or user as to
`whether, following a first, automatic acknowledge-back
`response is made, a separate and additional acknowl-
`edge-back signal is required and if so, when to send it
`and when not to send it. The system also advises the
`originating caller as to whether the intended message
`was successfully received or not.
`Paging systems have progressed over the years in
`both frequency and extent of usage as well as complex-
`ity. They have indeed become an indispensable tool for
`business. In addition, many different types of paging
`receivers have been developed. There are tone-only
`pagers, as well as tone and voice and, of more recent
`vintage the display pager which is capable of receiving
`data messages and displaying the same in appropriate
`alphanumeric form. Moreover,
`the mechanisms for
`originating the paging messages are likewise many and
`varied. A call may be made by voice using a standard
`telephone unit, or such call may be made by a special-
`ized paging terminal or video display terminal.
`All the foregoing different types of paging receivers
`may be intermixed in a single system, or such system
`may be populated by only a single type of paging re-
`ceiver. In any event, for those receivers which are capa-
`ble of an acknowledge-back feature, there are steps in
`the procedure which may well intend to confuse such
`user. For example, the user may not be confident as to
`whether or not a separate manual response is expected.
`If so when to press the acknowledge-back button is a
`further concern because it must be effected within a
`predetermined time window.
`From the originating call side, i.e., the base station
`site, as well as for the originating caller, the question is,
`did the pager/user, upon being addressed (called), re-
`ceive such address and is he/she in a position/condition
`to receive and understand the intended message to fol-
`low. For example, the paging receiver may be sitting on
`a desk by itself remote from the location of the person
`or user. In this case, the pager itself, if turned on, is
`capable of receiving paging calls, but the pager user is
`not, because he or she is at some other location. Simi-
`larly, the paging receiver may be in a battery charger
`and likewise capable of receiving and indicating an
`automatic acknowledge-back signal, but the user is not
`in a position to receive the intended message. Further,
`the pager may be on the person of the user and capable
`of momentarily receiving a signal and responding with
`an automatic acknowledge-back signal, but moments
`later having the propagation path degraded by a steel
`beam in an office building or the like. Sending an in-
`tended message at that particular juncture would mean
`the same would simply be lost.
`Accordingly, it will be seen that notwithstanding a
`pager’s capability of automatically acknowledging back
`a response signal to a receive address call, there is in-
`deed a good deal of uncertainly and, in some cases,
`confusion regarding the users responsibility, and the
`paging system with such automatic acknowledge-back
`capability, in terms of what further response is expected
`from him/her as well as what time it is to be effected.
`
`2
`Further, there is also some uncertainty at the central or
`base-site location from where a page is transmitted and
`particularly with respect to the originator of the call
`regarding whether or not the pager user being called is
`ready and capable of receiving, or has received and
`understood a particular transmitted message. Notwith-
`standing the fact that an address was transmitted and
`received by the pager being called and an automatic
`acknowledge-back signal being sent,
`the central sta-
`tion/telephone caller originating the call needs to know
`that a response has been effected by the pager user,
`whether it be an affirmative or a negative response. An
`“affirmative acknowledge” response indicates the user
`has received the message and has duly responded; a
`negative response indicates confirmation is lacking.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention
`to provide a closed-loop acknowledge-back paging
`arrangement and method which overcomes the forego-
`ing deficiencies.
`A more particular object of the present invention is to
`provide a paging system of the foregoing type wherein
`the pager user by way of an included indicator may be
`advised and “walked through” an appropriate acknowl-
`edge-back manual response procedure, both in terms of
`how to respond and when to respond.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide
`a paging system of the foregoing type wherein positive
`feedback is utilized in the system to minimize potential
`confusion for all particularized parties, such that the
`pager user has received an intended message and re-
`sponded affirmatively and further, when such pager
`user responds negatively.
`In practicing the invention, a paging system is pro-
`vided wherein a plurality of associated paging receivers
`have the capability of automatic acknowledging-back
`and wherein such pagers are further provided with
`visual and audible indicator means, along with a manual
`operating button for a further manual acknowledge-
`bacl-: response. When the pager receives a call (address),
`an automatic acknowledge-back signal is generated and
`sent. Further, a time window is established during the
`interval of a following message and a pre-deterrnined
`time thereafter, such that manual responding during
`such interval confirms receipt of such message, with the
`same being relayed to the originating caller by the pag-
`ing system, and wherein failure to so respond during the
`interval indicates such message was not received and-
`/or understood, with such also being relayed to the
`originating caller.
`A method is provided for effecting such response and
`advising the pager wearer if such manual response is
`required and, if so, when to operate an associated man-
`ual pushbutton to send such response.
`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 advantages thereof may
`be best understood by reference to the accompanying
`drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a graphic representation of a paging system
`having automatic acknowledge-back capability, which
`system has been constructed in accordance with the
`present invention.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`7
`
`
`
`4,940,963
`
`3
`FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the system
`of FIG. 1 indicating acknowledge-back capability be-
`tween the base site apparatus and each of the system
`pagers;
`FIG. 3 is a partial graphic and block diagram of the
`paging terminal and calling unit portion of the system of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system pager showing
`both automatic and manual ack-back capabilities and
`the means for effecting the same;
`FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the procedural steps
`for effecting the ack-back responses from the pager-side
`for a tone and voice page;
`FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a modification to the proce-
`dural steps of FIG. 5 for a very busy system in which a
`specific query signal is required for ack-back manual
`response;
`FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the procedural steps
`for effecting the required ack-back response from the
`system or base station side for a tone and voice page;
`and
`FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a modification to the proce-
`dural steps of FIG. 7 to provide for a specific query
`signal to be generated and sent for the expected manual
`response.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring now to the drawings a paging system is
`shown in FIG. 8, which system has been here con-
`structed in accordance with the present invention and
`includes the capability of automatic as well as manual
`acknowledge back (ACK-BACK) signal response.
`The system 10 may include a paging controller con-
`sole or terminal 12 which may receive incoming calls at
`a telephone input port 14 from, first, human callers
`utilizing conventional or standard telephone handset 16
`or, secondly, from personal computers or video display
`terminals depicted at 18, or thirdly, from. page entry
`terminals as shown at reference 20.
`Console terminal 12 will process the paging request,
`extract the appropriate address from internal memory
`and activate the paging transmitter 22 to broadcast the
`intended paging call, and which in turn is received by
`the appropriate system pager for processing the infor-
`mation and alerting the paging receiver wearer or user.
`As will be understood, the pagers of the system may be
`of tone only type, as depicted at 24a, a tone and voice
`pager, as indicated at 24b or an alphanumeric display
`type, as shown at 24c. As mentioned previously, the
`system 10 may comprise different types of these refer-
`enced.pagers intermixed within the system, or it may be ’
`populated by only a particular type of pagers. But in
`any event, each of these pagers within system 10 is
`equipped to respond with an automatic ack-back signal
`upon being paged (addressed) by the central base station
`or transmitter 22.
`As well known, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, a termi-
`nal interface module 26 accepts incoming calls from a
`PABX or a public switch telephone network (PSTN)
`shown in dotted line at 28, which in turn interfaces with
`a standard telephone device 16, a personal computer or
`video display terminal 18, and/or a page entry terminal
`(PET) 20. If the incoming call is from a standard tele-
`phone unit, it is processed by the module interface 26
`from an included DTMF decoder (not shown) con-
`nected to input port 14A. If the incoming call is from a
`VDT 18 or PET 20 an internal modem in the module
`
`4
`interface effects the processing as indicated at inputs
`14b and 14d by the reference “M”.
`As best seen in FIG. 3, the terminal 12, in addition to
`one or more interface modules 26, further includes a
`controller 32, a synthesizer 34, a memory 36 and an
`acknowledge back decoder 38. With the exception of
`the ack-back decoder 38, the other referenced compo-
`nent parts functioned to essentially route the incoming
`paging request at a port 14 on the input side to the
`transmitter control ports 30 on the output side. Control-
`ler 32 serves as the “brain” of the system and includes a
`microprocessor (not specifically shown), while the syn-
`thesizer 34 generates the sometimes required paging
`tones constituting the pagers address contained within
`memory 36 along with other. system parameters and
`relevant subscriber information. The ack-back decoder
`38 receives the various ack-back signals from the sys-
`tems pagers which are utilized to determine the degree
`of confidence as to whether a particular paging message .
`was received and understood by the pager wearer, as
`will be described hereinafter. In any event, terminal 12
`along with transmitter 22 and associate antenna 23 con-
`stitute the base site or system side 13 of the paging‘
`system 10.
`The pager-side 15 of system 10 comprises the paging
`receiver portion 50, the included ack-back encoder 58
`and associated antenna 54. A more detailed representa-.
`tion of a system pager is shown in FIG. 4. In addition to
`the foregoing, the overall pager unit 24 further includes
`an antenna switch 56, a transmitter portion 52, a speaker
`60, a display 62, if of the numeric or alphanumeric type,
`and a latch 64 and manual button 66 coupled to the
`ack-back encoder-controller 58b and a manual response
`indicator 68. Indicator 68 may be an LCD segment or
`an LED displayed on the outer pager housing. Addi-
`tionally, it may also include an audible transducer nor-
`mally already a part of the pager unit.
`In operation, incoming calls are accepted at the ap-
`propriate input ports 14 and are subsequently processed
`by the controller 32, which, say for example, has a call
`from a standard telephone for a conventional tone and
`voice page, generates the necessary tones for the in-
`tended pager as taken from memory 36. These tones are
`outputted on the output control lines to transmitter 22
`and broadcast by the antenna 23. The address is re-
`ceived by page antenna and is processed by the pager
`receiver portion 50. Upon being decoded and recog-
`nized by address decoder 58a, an automatic ack-back
`signal is generated and transmitted back to terminal 12
`by pager transmitter portion 52, which is received and
`processed by ack-back decoder module 38. No action is
`required by the pager user for this sequence of automat-
`ically responding and requires only that the pager 24 be
`turned on and receive the particular address signal.
`Upon receipt and processing of the automatic ack-
`back response from pager 24 by terminal 12, the in-
`tended message may then be transmitted to pager 24 in
`like fashion. During the time for processing the mes-
`sage, and for a predetermined period thereafter, which
`constitutes a response interval, the pager wearer may
`activate manual pushbutton 66 to generate a further and
`manual ack-back response. When received and pro-
`cessed at the base-central site,
`it is indicative of the
`condition that the page message was duly received and
`understood by the intended pager wearer. Accordingly,
`the originating caller may be so advised by a pre-pro-
`grammed message stored in terminal 12.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`
`
`
`5
`Failure to receive the second,.manual response dur-
`ing the referenced response interval, by the terminal 12
`following transmission of the intended message, is indic-
`ative of the fact that the message for some reason was
`not properly received and/or the response was ob-
`structed from transmission back to the central paging
`terminal. Again, the originating caller may be so ad-
`vised by pre-programmed stored message in terminal
`12. In the latter event, the caller may be queried as to
`whether he or she wishes an immediate retry regarding
`the referenced page message, or wishes to wait for some
`later time. In any case, the originating caller is advised
`of the specific status of the paging call. Either it is re-
`ceived and understood, or it is not.
`As mentioned previously, a significant problem in
`paging systems with ack-back capabilities is the user
`uncertainty as to whether a further ack-back response,
`in addition to the first automatic response, is in order,
`and, if so, when should such additional manual response
`be effected.
`In the paging system of the present arrangement, the
`pager wearer is guided through the required procedure
`both as to whether a manual response is to be made, and
`if so, when. This is shown more clearly by reference to
`the flow chart of FIG. 5 representing the pager side of 25
`the ack-back signal responses to be effected in the sys-
`tem 10.
`As shown, the process or routine begins at step 70
`followed by the receipt of a pager address by pager 24
`at step 72. Upon processing and recognition by the
`pager 24, an automatic ack-back response is generated
`via the receiver’s encoder-controller module 58b at step
`74. The controller portion thereof effects the alert and
`routing of the audio to the pager speaker 60 at step 76
`and further turns “on” the manual response indicator
`68. This advises the pager wearer that a further, manual
`ack-back action on his or her part is required. If the
`pager wearer then activates push button 66 so as to
`initiate a further (manual) ack-back response at step 78,
`the pager 24 then effects the transmission of a manual
`response of the affirmative type at step 80. This re-
`sponse, as previously referenced, may be made at any
`time during the time the intended message is being re-
`ceived and processed by pager 24 and for some set
`pre-determined time thereafter. Upon the pager wearer
`activating the pushbutton 66 during this interval, to
`effect the intended response, the pager turns “oft” the
`manual response indicator, also in step 80, and ends the
`routine at step 82.
`However, if the pager 24 fails to detect the activation
`of pushbutton 66, it waits until the expiration of the
`response interval at step 84. Thereupon it turns off the
`manual response indicator and transmits a negative
`manual response at step 86, whereupon the routine may
`be terminated at step 88.
`From the base or central side, the routine begins at
`step 90, whereupon the particular pager address is trans-
`mitted at step 92. The chaimel is then monitored at step
`94 for a given time during which an automatic ack-back
`signal may be expected to be received at step 96 for the
`pager 24 being paged. If the automatic ack-back signal
`is not received by terminal 12 within the time set in step
`98, the terminal 12 determines that the pager is not in
`service and so advises the caller by a pre-programmed
`message stored therein as indicated in step 100, where-
`upon the routine is ended at step 102.
`If, however, the automatic ack-back response is re-
`ceived at step 96, the intended message may then be
`
`45
`
`30
`
`35
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4,940,963
`
`5
`
`l0
`
`15
`
`20
`
`6
`transmitted at step 104. The channel is then monitored
`for a pre-determined time at step 106. If the manual
`ack-back response is not detected within the time period
`set in step 110, the terminal 12 determines that “no
`response is received” (no affirmative, no negative re-
`sponse) and so advises the originating caller, as indi-
`cated at step 112, whereupon the routine is ended at step
`114. As indicated, a program may be set to resend the
`page if no response is initially received in step 112.
`Alternatively, if the second (manual) ack-back re-
`sponse is received by the terminal 12 at step 108, the
`terminal further determines whether such response is a
`response in the affirmative, see step 80 in FIG. 5, or a
`negative response, as in step 86. If the manual ack-back
`response is in the affirmative sense,
`terminal 12, by
`pre-programmed stored message, advises the originat-
`ing caller at step 118 that an affirmative message has in
`fact been received. If the manual ack-back response is in
`the negative" sense, the originating caller is so advised at
`step 120 accordingly. In either event, the routine is
`ended at step 122.
`«There is still one other aspect that needs to be consid-
`ered for a paging systems of this type. This is the matter
`of setting the response interval for manually responding
`back. As previously described, this interval may conve-
`niently begin with the transmission and reception of the
`intended message by the called pager and for a prede-
`termined time thereafter. However, in very busy sys-
`tems, setting this interval routinely may result in less
`efficiency than may otherwise be obtained.
`As an alternative to this preset interval, the paging
`system, or more accurately, the controller 32 of termi-
`nal 12, may effect a specific query of a call pager for a
`manual ack-back response at a selected but not pre-
`ordained time. This is reflected in FIG. 8 where, after
`transmitting the intended voice message, following the
`receipt of the automatic ack-back response in step 104 of
`FIG. 7, terminal 12 may then return to paging still other
`pagers in the system as indicated at step 104a. At an
`appropriate but variably selected time, terminal 12 may
`query a particular system pager for the required manual
`ack-back response as indicated at step 105. It is to be
`understood that the manual response interval may be set
`independent of the query signal transmitted by the ter-
`minal 12, if so desired. The pushbutton 66 may be acti-
`vated during the set interval, but the pager 24 simply
`notes such action. The actual manual ack-back response
`is not sent by the pager until the query signal is re-
`ceived. When such query signal is transmitted it is se-
`lected by the terminal 12. This query signal may com-
`prise the pager’s address and certain additional informa-
`tion which instructs the pager not to alert but only to
`activate the manual response indicator 68 on pager 24.
`Terminal 12 then monitors the channel for some pre-
`determined time, the same as in step 106 of FIG. 7, and
`the routine then continues in the same manner as previ-
`ously described.
`At the pager side, the pager address is received and
`an automatic response initiated at steps 72 and 74 as
`previously described in FIG. 5. At step 76, however,
`the pager alerts and routes the audio to the pager
`speaker, and the manual indicator is activated at this
`time. At some time subsequent, as indicated at step 76a,
`FIG. 6, a system query signal is specifically transmitted
`and received by pager 24. As in step 78, FIG. 5, the
`pager 24 determines whether or not the pager wearer
`has activated the push button 66 or not. If yes, a re-
`sponse in the affirmative sense is transmitted back at
`
`9
`
`
`
`4,940,963
`
`7
`step 80, and if not, a response in the negative sense is
`transmitted back at step 86, whereupon the routine may
`then be ended as before at step 88.
`Accordingly what is claimed is:
`1. In a paging system with a central base station and
`a plurality of remote pager units, an arrangement for
`indicating the status of a particular paging call, compris-
`ing in combination:
`indicator means on the pager unit;
`means for receiving a paging signal by the pager,
`activating said indicator means for a set interval,
`and sending back an automatic response thereto to
`indicate a received address;
`means for receiving an associated message by the
`pager; and
`means for manually responding or not responding
`during said set interval,
`by manually responding during said interval, an affir-
`mative response is sent back to the base station as
`an indication that said message has been received
`and which is so indicated to the initiating caller,
`by not manually responding within said interval, a
`negative response is sent back to the base station
`which is likewise indicated to the initiating caller.
`2. An arrangement for indicating the status of a pag-
`ing call in a paging system in accordance with claim 1
`wherein the means for manually responding during said
`set interval includes a manually operated pushbutton on
`the pager unit.
`3. An arrangement for indicating the status of a pag-
`ing call in a paging system in accordance with claim 1
`wherein the set interval for manually responding in-
`cludes the time during the receipt of said associated
`message and for a predetermined time thereafter.
`4. An arrangement for indicating the status of a pag-
`ing call in a paging system in accordance with claim 1
`wherein said indicator means is activated upon the re-
`ceipt of said message and remains active for said set
`interval to both indicate to the pager wearer that a
`manual ack-back response is expected as well as when
`such response must be made.
`5. An arrangement for indicating the status of a pag-
`ing call in a paging system in accordance with claim 1
`wherein said indicator means may be visual, audible or
`both.
`6. An arrangement for indicating the status of a pag-
`ing call in a paging system in accordance with claim 5
`wherein said visual indicator means is an LCD segment
`or an LED device.
`7. An arrangement for indicating the status of a pag-
`ing call in a paging system in accordance with claim 5
`wherein said audible indicator means is a transducer
`device.
`8. An arrangement for indicating the status of a pag-
`ing call in a paging system in accordance with claim 5
`wherein said indication to the initiating caller is made
`by preprogrammed message stored in the central base
`station.
`9. An arrangement for indicating the status of a pag-
`ing call in a paging system in accordance with claim 1
`wherein failure by the base station to receive back ei-
`ther an affirmative response or a negative response
`within a set time period is interpreted as the associated
`message not being properly received or an obstruction
`occurring to prevent transmission by the pager unit to
`the base station.
`10. In a paging system with a central base station and
`p a plurality of remote pager units, a method of respond-
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`8
`ing back by a remote pager user to indicate status of a
`particular paging call, comprising the steps of:
`providing indicator means on the pager unit;
`receiving a paging signal by the pager, activating said
`indicator means for a set interval, and sending back
`an automatic response thereto to indicate a re-
`ceived address; and
`receiving an associated message and either manually
`responding affirmatively or not responding during
`said set interval,
`by responding during said set interval, an affirmative
`response is sent back to the base station as an indi-
`cation that said message has been duly received and
`which is so indicated to the initiating caller,
`by not manually responding within said set interval, a
`negative response is sent back to the base station
`which is likewise indicated to the initiating caller.
`11. A method for indicating the status of a paging call
`in a paging system in accordance with claim 10 wherein
`said manual response during said set interval is effected
`by an included manually operated pushbutton on the
`pager unit.
`12. A method for indicating the status of a paging call
`in a paging system in accordance with claim 10 wherein
`said set interval upon manual responding includes the
`time during the receipt of the associated message and
`for a pre-deterrnined time thereafter.
`13. A method for indicating the status of a paging call
`in a paging system in accordance with claim 10 wherein
`keeping said indicator means activated for the said in-
`terval is to both indicate to the page wearer that a man-
`ual ack-back response is expected as well as when such
`response must be made.
`14. A method for indicating the status of a paging call
`in a paging system in accordance with claim 10 which
`includes the step of providing said indicator means in
`visual or audible form, or both.
`15. A method for indicating the status of a paging call
`in a paging system in accordance with claim 10 wherein
`either step of indicating the status of a referenced mes-
`sage to the initiated caller is by pre-programmed mes-
`sage stored in the central base station.
`16. A method for indicating the status of a paging call
`in a paging system in accordance with claim 10 wherein
`the failure of the central base station to receive back
`either an affirmative or a negative response within a set
`time period will be interpreted as the associated mes-
`sage not being properly received or as an obstruction
`occurring to prevent transmission by the pager unit to
`the base station.
`17. In a paging system with a central base station and
`a plurality of remote pager units, each such pager hav-
`ing an automatic acknowledgement response capability
`as well as a manual acknowledgement response capabil-
`ity initiated by activation of an associated pushbutton,
`an arrangement for indicating the status of a particular
`paging call, comprising in combination:
`indicator means on the pager unit;
`means for receiving a paging signal by the pager,
`activating said indicator means for a set interval,
`and sending back an automatic response thereto to
`indicate a received address; and
`means for receiving an associated message and deter-
`mining whether said pushbutton is operated during
`the time said indicator means remains activated;
`and
`
`10
`
`10
`
`
`
`4,940,963
`
`9
`means for receiving a query signal regarding the said
`referenced message for sending back an affirmative
`or negative response;
`a response in the affirmative sense is sent if said push-
`button was operated during said interval said indi-
`cator means was activated to serve as an indication
`that said message was duly received and which is
`so indicated to the initiating caller,
`a negative response is sent if said pushbutton was not
`timely operated, which is likewise indicated to the
`initiating caller.
`18. An arrangement for indicating the status of a
`paging call in a paging system in accordance with claim
`17 wherein said query signal includes the pager address
`and other signal
`infomiation instructing the called
`pager to inhibit paging alert and to transmit back the
`affirmative or negative response.
`19. An arrangement for indicating the status of a
`paging call in a paging system in accordance with claim
`17 wherein said query signal is transmitted by the cen-
`tral base station at a selected time based on the level of
`on-going page call traffic.
`20. In a paging system with a central base station and
`a plurality of remote pager units, each such pager hav-
`ing an automatic acknowledgement response capability
`as well as a manual acknowledgement response capabil-
`ity initiated by activation of an associated pushbutton, a
`method of responding back by a remote pager user to
`indicate status of a particular paging call, comprising
`the steps of:
`
`10
`providing indicator means on the pager unit;
`receiving a paging signal by the pager activating said
`indicator means for a set interval, and sending back
`an automatic response thereto to indicate a re-
`ceived address; and
`receiving and associated message and determining
`whether said pushbutton is operated during the
`time said ind