(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0258372 A1
`Naegeli
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Nov. 16, 2006
`
`US 20060258372A1
`
`(54) TWO-WAY PAGER AND METHOD FOR
`COMMUNICATING PRESET MESSAGES
`OVER THE GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE
`COMMUNICATIONS (GSM/GPRS)
`NETWORK
`
`(76) Inventor: Hans Peter Naegeli, (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`THOMAS, KAYDEN, HORSTEMEYER &
`RISLEY, LLP
`100 GALLERIA PARKWAY, NW
`STE 1750
`ATLANTA, GA 30339-5948 (US)
`(21) Appl. No.:
`11/430,059
`(22) Filed:
`May 8, 2006
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Division of application No. 10/845,623, filed on May
`3, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,043,262, which is a continu
`ation-in-part of application No. 09/262,423, filed on
`Mar. 4, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,731,942.
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/077,080, filed on Mar.
`6, 1998.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`H04O 7/20
`
`(2006.01)
`
`
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. .......................................................... 455/4.56.1
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention provides a communication system for
`transmitting messages from one or more dispatcher stations
`to and from one or more stand-alone, two-way pagers via a
`radio frequency communication channel, namely, the short
`message service (SMS) of the Global System for Mobile
`Communications (GSM/GPRS) cellular telephone network.
`The paging system of the present invention utilizes a com
`munications protocol which allows a dispatcher station and
`a pager of the paging system to communicate over the
`GSM/GPRS network in a predetermined manner. When the
`dispatcher station sends a message to a pager of the present
`invention, the message may contain steering codes which
`inform the pager of the manner in which the message is to
`be treated. For example, if the message is time-critical, the
`pager is notified by the steering code that a response to the
`message must be transmitted within a predetermined time
`integral. If the pager does not transmit a response within the
`predetermined time interval, the pager is not allowed to
`respond to the message. The steering codes may also require
`that the user can respond with a preprogrammed answer
`which has been previously stored in the memory of the
`pager. The two-way pager allows the central station to
`determine the geographical location of the pager.
`
`cood
`
`O
`
`APPLE 1027
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 16, 2006 Sheet 1 of 8
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`Patent Application Publication Nov. 16, 2006 Sheet 2 of 8
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`US 2006/0258372 A1
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`1
`
`----------------- 44
`43
`HF-TX/RXAMPLIFER
`ANTENNA INTERFACE
`
`CELULAR MODEM
`CONTROLLER
`
`
`
`MODEM MANAGEMENT DRIVER
`
`FAULTHANDLNG
`
`APPLICATION PROTOCOL
`DRIVER
`
`-
`
`
`
`48
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`49
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`
`
`55
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ROM PROGRAM
`MEMORY
`
`RAM DATA
`MEMORY
`
`EPROM
`PARAMTER
`MEMORY
`
`SOUND CONTROL
`
`
`
`ACOUSTIC DEVICE
`
`79
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`3
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`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 16, 2006 Sheet 3 of 8
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`US 2006/0258372 A1
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`RECEIVED?
`
`
`
`YES
`
`DLE MODE
`Nas
`
`92
`
`ANAYZE
`INCOMMENG CALL
`
`USER CAN
`PERFORM
`VARIOUS TASKS
`(E.G., SET DATE/
`TIME,
`SET ALERT TYPE,
`DISPLAY STORED
`MESSAGES,
`ERASE
`MESSAGES)
`
`
`
`
`
`93
`
`<gatastidis
`NO
`YES 94
`
`E.
`
`BLOCK 102
`INFIG.3B
`
`T
`
`Fig. 3A
`
`NO
`
`PROTECTED
`LEVEL2
`
`YES
`
`95
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PASSWORD
`CORRECT?
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`96
`
`DEVICE SENDS
`BACK"LLEGA
`PASSWORD"
`INDICATION
`98
`
`
`
`DEVICE LOADS
`97
`E. NEW CONFIG.
`YES
`DATA
`NO 1OO
`
`RETURN
`TO
`BLOCK 83
`99
`
`DEVICE
`SENDS BACK
`CONFIRMATION
`
`
`
`DEVICE SENDS
`BACK"NOT ENABLED"
`INDICATION
`
`RETURN
`TO
`BLOCK 83
`
`RETURN
`TO
`BLOCK 83
`
`4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 16, 2006 Sheet 4 of 8
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`US 2006/0258372 A1
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`START
`
`102
`
`ALARM USER
`
`1O3
`
`GO TO
`BLOCK 131 F 9. 3B
`NO NFIG. 3D
`O
`
`YES
`DISPLAY MESSAGE AND
`SWITCH TO SHORTCUT MENU
`
`104
`
`105
`
`ANUAL RESP.
`BY BUTTON
`REQUIRED?
`
`GO TO
`BLOCK 112
`NFIG. 3C
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`106
`
`
`
`107
`
`DD USER REACT
`BEFORE END OF
`TMOUTP
`YES
`
`
`
`
`
`USER PUSHED
`BUTTON AND
`RESPONSE WAS
`SENT
`
`MESSAGE CAN
`NO LONGER
`BE ANSWERED
`109
`
`NO
`108
`
`
`
`RETURN
`TO BLOCK 83
`NFIG. 3A
`
`USER MAYERASE
`DISPLAYED
`MESSAGE
`
`RETURN
`TO BLOCK 83
`NFIG. 3A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`5
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 16, 2006 Sheet 5 of 8
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`US 2006/0258372 A1
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`MANUAL RESPONSE
`WITH TEXT REQUIRED
`
`112
`
`NO
`
`VARIABLE ANSWER
`TEXT ALLOWED?
`
`YES
`
`
`
`DID USER REACT
`BEFORE END OF
`TIMOUT?
`YES
`
`USER SELECTED A
`VARABLE OR FIXED
`ANSWERTEXT AND
`RESPONSE WAS
`SENT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`114
`
`115
`
`
`
`NO
`
`118
`
`117
`
`MESSAGE CAN
`NO LONGER
`BEANSWERED
`
`119
`
`RETURN
`>TO
`BLOCK 83
`IN FIG. 3A
`
`USER MAY ERASE
`DISPLAYED
`MESSAGE .
`
`RETURN
`TO
`BLOCK 83
`NFIG. 3A
`
`121
`
`122
`
`
`
`
`
`DD USER REACT
`BEFORE END OF
`TIMOUT2
`YES
`
`NO
`
`124
`
`MESSAGE CAN
`NO LONGER
`BE ANSWERED
`
`125
`
`RETURN
`TO
`BLOCK 83
`N FIG. 3A
`
`USERSELECTED A
`FIXED-ANSWERTEXT
`AND RESPONSE WAS
`SENT
`
`USER MAY ERASE
`DISPLAYED
`MESSAGE
`
`R
`R
`ETURN
`TO
`BLOCK 83
`NFIG. 3A
`
`Fig. 3C
`
`6
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 16, 2006 Sheet 6 of 8
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`US 2006/0258372 A1
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`FROM BLOCK 103
`NFIG. 3A
`
`
`
`YES
`
`AUTOMATIC
`RESPONSE
`MESSAGE RECEIVED?
`
`131
`
`NO
`
`
`
`132
`
`
`
`134
`
`
`
`
`
`MANUAL RESPONSE
`BY BUTTON
`RECURED?
`
`
`
`YES
`
`USER SELECTED A
`BUTTON AND
`RESPONSE WAS
`
`b.
`NO
`135
`
`MANUAL
`RESPONSE WITH
`TEXT REQUIRED
`
`Sg
`BLOCK 145
`NFIG. 3E
`
`136
`
`137
`
`MESSAGE
`DISPLAYED
`
`USER MAY
`ERASE RERN
`DISPLAYED
`BLOCK 83
`
`138
`
`141
`
`42
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`DISPLAYED
`
`CONFIRMATION
`SENT BACK
`
`USER MAY
`RERN
`ERASE
`DISPLAYED
`MESSAGE BLOCK 83
`NFIG. 3A
`
`Fig. 3D
`
`7
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 16, 2006 Sheet 7 of 8
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`US 2006/0258372 A1
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`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FROM BLOCK 134
`N FIG. 3D
`
`NO
`
`VARABLE
`ANSWERTEXT
`INCLUDEOP
`
`145
`
`USER SELECTED A
`VARIABLE OR FIXED
`ANSWERTEXT AND
`RESPONSE WAS
`SENT
`
`USER MAY ERASE
`DISPLAYED
`MESSAGE
`
`RETURN
`TO
`BOCK 85
`N FIG. 3A
`
`USER SELECTED A
`FIXED-ANSWERTEXT
`AND RESPONSE WAS
`SENT
`
`
`
`USER MAYERASE
`DISPLAYED
`MESSAGE
`
`
`
`RETURN
`TO
`BLOCK 85
`N FIG. 3A
`
`Fig. 3E
`
`8
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Nov. 16, 2006 Sheet 8 of 8
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`US 2006/0258372 A1
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`
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`24C
`
`FG 4
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`9
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`

`

`US 2006/0258372 A1
`
`Nov. 16, 2006
`
`TWO-WAY PAGER AND METHOD FOR
`COMMUNICATING PRESET MESSAGES OVER
`THE GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE
`COMMUNICATIONS (GSM/GPRS) NETWORK
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`0001. This application is a divisional of application Ser.
`No. 10/845,623, entitled, “A TWO-WAY PAGER FOR
`PROVIDING TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION OF
`ALPHIANUMERIC MESSAGES OVER THE GLOBAL
`SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS (GSM/
`GPRS/GPRS) NETWORK, filed on May 3, 2004, which is
`entirely incorporated herein by reference and is a continu
`ation-in-part of copending U.S. utility application having
`Ser. No. 09/262,423, filed on Mar. 4, 1999, which is entirely
`incorporated herein by reference, which in turn claims
`priority to U.S. provisional application entitled, “MOBILE
`COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM HAVING PAGERS FOR
`PROVIDING TWO-WAY SHORT ALPHANUMERIC
`MESSAGES BETWEEN PAGERS VIA THE GSM NET
`WORK, having Ser. No. 60/077,080, filed on Mar. 6, 1998,
`which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0002) 1. Technical Field of the Invention
`0003. This invention relates in general to a mobile com
`munications system which has pagers and base stations
`providing two-way communication of alphanumeric mes
`sages between the pagers and the base stations. More
`particularly, these messages are communicated via the Glo
`bal System for Mobile Communications (GSM/GPRS) net
`work which has been set up on a world wide basis. It is
`specifically designed for the pager to send preset, or canned,
`responses to a central station which are useful in coordinat
`ing personnel responding to events, such as emergencies.
`0004 2. Description of the Prior Art
`0005 Simple paging systems are comprised of small
`analogue radio receivers (pagers) and one or more transmit
`ters (base stations). The base station in these systems trans
`mits a series of tones which represent an address code and
`the pagers in the system evaluate the tones. At least one
`pager in the network detects the tone sequence as its own
`code and alarms the user of the pager with a beep or
`vibration that the user is being called.
`0006 Paging systems have progressed over the years in
`both frequency and extent of usage as well as complexity,
`Some pagers now have Subminiature radio receivers, which
`are capable of reproducing a Voice message which has been
`broadcast over the network by a transmitter. Only those
`pagers whose address codes have been transmitted over the
`network will open their audio paths to receive the transmit
`ted Voice message.
`0007 Some of the more recent pagers are equipped with
`a numeric or alphanumeric display. These pagers are capable
`of displaying a message sent by transmitters using a digital
`code which contains the address of a specific pager, or group
`of pagers, and the text of the message being sent. These
`paging systems may use a protocol Such as the Post Office
`Code Standardization Advisory Group (POCSAG) or Golay
`Sequential Code (GSC). These protocols utilize well known
`
`error detection and error correction techniques and are,
`therefore, tolerant to bit errors occurring during transmis
`Sion, provided the errors are not too numerous in any one
`word.
`0008 All of the paging systems described above are
`strictly one-way. There is no confirmation to the sender that
`a message has actually reached the pager, nor does the user
`have any means of sending an answer via his pager.
`0009. To remedy this limitation, pagers have been devel
`oped which allow two-way communication and which have
`individual transmission capability. When a pager of this type
`is called by a base station, the pager transmits its ID code to
`the base station which is an affirmative response that the
`pager has received the call.
`0010. A conventional pager which permits two-way data
`communication requires more electric power than can be
`provided by the battery of a conventional pager. In order to
`solve this problem, a dedicated network of repeaters are used
`to send the pager's ID and message to the sending base
`station. A large number of repeaters are necessary for a
`two-way paging system to cover a large geographical area
`(e.g., a state or an entire country). This is a very expensive
`outlay needed to obtain a two-way data communication
`channel. In addition, a multi-repeater setup requires many
`different radio frequencies which are becoming more diffi
`cult to obtain from the FCC. Additional gateways are
`required if the communication system also accesses fax
`machines, the Internet or other alphanumeric devices. The
`dedicated two-way paging systems are ideal for a single
`repeater configuration which covers a limited area (e.g., a
`single building or hospital).
`0011 Thus, what is needed is a two-way paging system
`that can be used throughout an entire country or interna
`tionally which does not require a large number of expensive
`repeaters. In addition, there is an increasing need to incor
`porate gateways to other communication networks within
`the paging System.
`0012. The Global System for Mobile Communications
`(GSM/GPRS) standard has been widely adopted in Europe
`and is now under consideration in several other countries
`outside of Europe. One of the primary goals of the GSM/
`GPRS standard is to enable users to move across national
`boundaries while still being able to communicate. Each
`country independently operates its own public land mobile
`network (PLMN) and the coverage of the PLMN is com
`mercially confined to the borders of the country in which it
`is implemented. Radio coverage may overlap at national
`boundaries and each country may have several competing
`PLMNS.
`0013 GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a data
`service that allows information to be sent and received
`across a mobile telephone network. It Supplements today's
`Circuit Switched Data and Short Message Service. Theo
`retical maximum speeds of up to 171.2 kilobits per second
`(kbps) are achievable with GPRS using all eight timeslots at
`the same time. This is about three times as fast as the data
`transmission speeds possible over today's fixed telecommu
`nications networks and ten times as fast as current Circuit
`Switched Data services on GSM networks. By allowing
`information to be transmitted more quickly, immediately
`and efficiently across the mobile network, GPRS may be a
`
`10
`
`

`

`US 2006/0258372 A1
`
`Nov. 16, 2006
`
`relatively less costly mobile data service compared to SMS
`and Circuit Switched Data. GPRS facilitates instant connec
`tions whereby information can be sent or received immedi
`ately as the need arises, subject to radio coverage.
`0014) When a GSM/GPRS customer subscribes to the
`GSM/GPRS system, the subscriber normally subscribes to a
`single PLMN, which is commonly referred to as the home
`PLMN. The subscriber's terminal, which is commonly
`referred to as the mobile station (MS), is typically thought
`of as having two principle components, namely, a first
`component relating to hardware and Software for the radio
`interface and a second component relating to the Subscriber
`identification information, which corresponds to the sub
`scriber identity module (SIM). The SIM component can be
`removed from the subscriber's mobile station and is typi
`cally much smaller than a credit card. The SIM is assigned
`a unique identity within the GSM/GPRS system, which is
`commonly referred to as the international mobile subscriber
`identity (IMSI). The IMSI is an identifier which is internal
`to the GSM/GPRS system and which is utilized by the
`GSM/GPRS system to identify the mobile station. A second
`identifier, commonly referred to as the temporary mobile
`station identity (TMSI), is assigned to each mobile station
`when it enters a new registration area and is valid only
`within that particular registration area. These identifiers
`should not be confused with the telephone number assigned
`to the mobile Station. The TMSI and IMSI identifiers are
`utilized by the GSM/GPRS system to track the mobile
`station within a registration area and as it moves from one
`registration area into another registration area of the GSM/
`GPRS network.
`0015 Currently, a stand-alone, two-way paging system
`which utilizes the GSM/GPRS network does not exist. The
`GSM/GPRS standard provides a short message service
`(SMS), which is suitable for alphanumeric paging SMS is
`now widely utilized. The SMS provides for communication
`of alphanumeric messages at over GSM/GPRS. However, in
`order for subscribers to have access to any of the GSM/
`GPRS services, including SMS, telephone companies
`require Subscribers to pay cellular telephone rates. Although
`Some companies provide cellular telephones with paging
`type circuitry which can be used to transmit alphanumeric
`messages over the GSM/GPRS network, since GSM/GPRS
`Subscribers are required to pay cellular telephone rates,
`GSM/GPRS subscribers typically communicate by voice
`over their cellular telephones rather than by sending alpha
`numeric messages over the SMS. Therefore, there has been
`no motivation or desire to provide stand-alone pagers for the
`GSMFGPRS network.
`0016.
`In areas in which the number of available fre
`quency bands is very limited, the typical pagers described
`above and the systems in which they operate are unsuitable
`due to the large number of frequency bands needed for their
`operation. For example, in Small countries, such as Swit
`Zerland, these typical paging systems are unsuitable because
`the number of frequency bands required for their use is not
`available. It would be desirable to provide a two-way paging
`system which utilizes the currently under-utilized SMS
`bandwidth and which does not require the subscriber to have
`a cellular telephone. One of the advantages of such a system
`is that it would allow government emergency response
`agencies, such as the fire department, to have two-way
`communication over relatively simple paging devices and
`
`thus would eliminate the need to purchase cellular tele
`phones for this purpose, which generally are much more
`expensive than pagers.
`0017 Accordingly, a need exists for a stand-alone, two
`way pager which is capable of providing two-way commu
`nication over the GSM/GPRS network.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0018. The present invention provides a communication
`system for transmitting messages from one or more dis
`patcher stations to and from one or more stand-alone,
`two-way pagers via radio frequency communication chan
`nel, namely, the short message service (SMS) of the Global
`System for Mobile Communications (GSM/GPRS) cellular
`telephone network.
`0019. The paging system of the present invention utilizes
`a communications protocol which allows a dispatcher sta
`tion and a pager of the paging system to communicate over
`the GSM/GPRS network in a predetermined manner. When
`the dispatcher station sends a message to a pager of the
`present invention, the message may contain steering codes
`which inform the pager of the manner in which the message
`is to be treated. For example, if the message is time-critical,
`the pager is notified by the steering code that a response to
`the message must be transmitted within a predetermined
`time integral. If the pager does not transmit a response
`within the predetermined time interval, the pager is not
`allowed to respond to the message.
`0020. The steering codes may also indicate whether or
`not the user of the pager must respond with a prepro
`grammed answer. If the steering code indicates that the user
`must respond with a preprogrammed answer which has been
`previously stored in the memory of the pager, the only
`response the user is allowed to transmit is one of the
`preprogrammed answers. Otherwise, the user may transmit
`a different type of response, such as, for example, a message
`which the user types in using the alphanumeric keypad of the
`pager.
`0021. In accordance with a first embodiment of the
`present invention, the pager comprises only a few keys
`which allow the user to select from a limited number of
`preprogrammed answers to be sent to the dispatcher station
`in response to a message received by the pager. In accor
`dance with a second embodiment of the present invention,
`the pager comprises a full alphanumeric keypad which
`allows the user to send messages which the user types in
`using the full alphanumeric keypad. The pager of the second
`embodiment may also be capable of sending prepro
`grammed answers.
`0022. The pager of the first embodiment of the present
`invention is especially useful in controlling and directing
`emergency personnel in an emergency situation, such as a
`fire, police or military situation. These personnel can be
`controlled from a central location with a paging system of
`this invention. A pager has a preset menu of messages (i.e.
`canned messages) from which the user of the pager can
`select. A steering code prevents the user from selecting any
`other message or creating his or her own message. This
`pager preferably has six keys to handle all the messages the
`user of the pager is permitted to send. The steering code can
`be set so that the user of the pager must respond within a
`
`11
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`

`US 2006/0258372 A1
`
`Nov. 16, 2006
`
`certain set time or he or she will not be able to respond at all.
`The pager of this invention preferably has a feature for
`automatic notification to the central location that the mes
`sage has been received. The user is able to acknowledge to
`the central location that he or she has read the message. A
`feature can be provided where the user scrolls down to the
`end of the message on the display, at which time an
`automatic message is sent which indicates that the user has
`scrolled through the message. A higher level of certainty is
`obtained if the user is required to affirmatively acknowledge
`that he or she has read the message.
`0023 The pager is also provided with a button to indicate
`that he or she will comply with a displayed message.
`0024. The pager may have certain other features, such as
`an accelerometer to indicate to the central location that the
`user is immobilized.
`0.025 The pager may also have a low-battery detector so
`that a message can be sent out to the central location that the
`pager has a low-battery.
`0026. As a further example of the control over the pager
`by the central location, a steering code can be programmed
`from a central location to shut off the pager, erase the
`memory, or prohibit the pager from receiving or sending any
`messages over the network. This is an important feature
`because the emergency situation in a fire, or terrorist action,
`or military action can be very fluid and volatile.
`0027. At present it is not possible to determine the
`location of a one-way pager because it does not send out any
`messages from which its location can be computed by
`triangulation algorithms as in the case of cellular phones.
`Since this two-way pager is designed to send out messages
`either automatically or by the user pushing one of the
`buttons on the pager that sends the message, the central
`location can compute the location of the pager in the same
`way that the location of a cellular phone can be located. The
`central location can use the steering code to require a pager
`or all the pagers under its control to send a message so that
`all of the pagers can be located geographically.
`0028. These six keys of the pager can be programmed to
`perform multiple functions. This pager is preferable
`equipped so that the pager can be secured and only locked
`by pressing a set combination of the keys. This is very
`important in maintaining the security in an emergency
`situation.
`0029. The enhanced pager of this invention can be con
`structed with only four buttons. By combining some func
`tions a simplified enhanced pager can be constructed with
`three buttons.
`0030. Other features and advantages of the present inven
`tion will become apparent from the following description,
`drawings and claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0031
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a paging system in
`accordance with the present invention which has the capa
`bility of communicating over the GSM/GPRS network;
`0032 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of electrical components
`of the pager of the present invention in accordance with the
`preferred embodiment; and
`
`0033 FIGS. 3A-3E together form a flow chart which
`demonstrates the method of the present invention in accor
`dance with the preferred embodiment for utilizing the two
`way pager of the present invention to communicate over the
`GSMFGPRS network.
`0034 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a six key pager similar
`to pager 24A in FIG. 1 that is especially designed to be used
`in a paging system to direct and control emergency respond
`ers in an emergency situation.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0035 FIG. 1 illustrates the paging system of the present
`invention which utilizes the Short Message Service (SMS)
`of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM/
`GPRS). The GSM/GPRS system was established for digital
`cellular phone service. The SMS utilizes a transmission
`system that does not interfere with the GSM/GPRS cellular
`phone service. Because the GSM/GPRS service has many
`more receivers than it has transmitters, it has greater capa
`bility for receiving relatively low-powered page-back mes
`sages than paging networks that have only a few receivers
`which are only capable of receiving high-powered mes
`Sages.
`0036) The system 10 includes a dispatcher station 13
`which comprises a paging controller terminal 12 which may
`receive, via one or more input/output (I/O) ports, incoming
`telephone calls from a standard telephone handset 16 or
`incoming data from a computer 18 or a facsimile machine
`20. Other types of end user devices (not shown) may also be
`connected to the controller terminal 12, as will be under
`stood by those skilled in the art. The controller terminal 12
`also outputs information to the end user devices 16, 18 and
`20 via the I/O ports of the controller terminal.
`0037. The controller terminal 12 transmits paging
`requests to and receives paging requests from the GSM/
`GPRS network 22. When a paging request is received by the
`controller terminal 12, the controller terminal processes the
`paging requests and obtains the appropriate address of the
`device being paged from a memory device, which may be
`located within the controller terminal 12 or at some other
`suitable location in communication with the controller ter
`minal 12, such as within the desk-top computer 18. The
`controller terminal 12 then activates a GSM/GPRS paging
`transceiver (not shown) located within the GSM/GPRS
`network 22 which, in turn, broadcasts the intended paging
`call to one or more pagers of the system 10.
`0038. In addition to the controller terminal 12 processing
`paging requests generated by one or more pagers. Such as
`pagers 24A and 24B, the controller terminal 12 and end user
`devices 16, 18 and 20 together comprise a dispatcher station
`13 from which paging requests may be generated. For
`example, a person acting as a dispatcher may dispatch
`paging requests and other messages by utilizing computer 18
`to generate paging messages. The computer 18 is pro
`grammed to generate messages which are formatted in
`accordance with a predetermined format. The controller
`terminal 12 receives these messages and transmits these
`messages to the GSM/GPRS network 22 in a manner
`consistent with the GSM/GPRS signaling protocol. When an
`incoming message is received by the controller terminal 12,
`the controller terminal 12 processes the message into a
`
`12
`
`

`

`US 2006/0258372 A1
`
`Nov. 16, 2006
`
`predetermined format and transmits the processed message
`to one of the end user devices 16, 18 and 20. The computer
`18, which may be, for example, a personal computer (PC),
`is programmed to process the received message and to
`display information to the dispatcher on the display monitor
`19 of the computer 18. The manner in which the computer
`18 performs these tasks will be discussed in detail below
`with respect to FIGS. 4A-4E.
`0039. One pager 24a of the present invention comprises
`a keyboard of only a few keys 28, 30 and 32, e.g., six (6)
`keys, to allow a user to send back a preprogrammed answer
`by actuating a particularkey. Alternatively, one pager 24b of
`the present invention comprises a full keyboard 34 on which
`the user may type full text messages. In either case, the pager
`may comprise a display 26 for displaying alphanumeric
`messages to the user.
`0040. With respect to pager 24a, each key 28, 30 and 32
`has a particular meaning associated with it which is known
`by the user. The pager 24a is programmed to generate and
`transmit a particular answer in response to a particular key
`being actuated. This feature of the present invention is very
`useful in emergency situations because it forces the user to
`respond in one or more predetermined manners, which are
`anticipated by the computer 18 of the dispatcher station 13.
`The advantages of this feature of the present invention will
`become even more apparent from the discussion of FIGS.
`3A-3E. However, it will be understood by those skilled in
`the art that the system 10 may be implemented with different
`types of pagers other than, or in addition to, those shown in
`F.G. 1.
`0041. The GSM/GPRS signaling protocol and the man
`ner in which information is communicated over the GSM/
`GPRS network 22 are well known in the art. Implementation
`of the present invention does not require that the GSM/
`GPRS network 22 be adapted or modified in any way.
`Therefore, a detailed discussion of the GSM/GPRS network
`22 and the manner in which information is communicated
`therein will not be provided herein.
`0042. The pager 24a shown in FIG. 1 is the preferred
`form for the pager of the present invention due to the
`Suitability of this type of pager to its use by personnel
`working in emergency-type occupations. However, it should
`be noted that the present invention is not limited to any
`particular type of pager. As stated above, the pager 24a
`shown in FIG. 1 has six keys 28, 30 and 32 and a memory
`element (not shown) that contains a plurality of prepro
`grammed messages. The alphanumeric display 26 may be a
`liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light emitting diode (LED)
`display. Incoming messages are displayed on the alphanu
`meric display 26 when received and are automatically stored
`in the memory element.
`0043. If a new message arrives at the pager 24a, the user
`can store the message in memory for future use by manipu
`lating the arrow keys 30. For example, a message can be
`stored in the memory element by moving the arrow key up
`to its maximum position and then by clicking the command
`key 32. Conversely, the message can be discarded by mov
`ing the down arrow key to its lowest position and by clicking
`the command key 32. Because of the limited memory of the
`pager, preferably the messages will not exceed 160 charac
`ters in length, although those skilled in the art will under
`stand that this is not a limitation of the invention but is one
`of economy and practicality.
`
`0044) In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the
`six key preprogrammed pager 24a is equipped with an
`automatic acknowledge-back feature which can be Sup
`pressed, when Suitable. Because the automatic acknowledge
`feature provides no assurance to the sender of the page that
`the page has actually been read, the pager is provided with
`a screen display request key 28. By pressing this key, the
`user acknowledges that he or she has read the message on
`the alphanumeric display 26. Whether or not the user must
`acknowledge that he or she has read the message and/or
`whether or not the pager must automatically acknowledge
`receipt of the message will be dictated by the steering codes
`transmitted with the messages, as discussed below with
`respect to FIGS. 3A-3E.
`0045. The pager 24a has sufficient memory to contain the
`desired number of preprogrammed messages. These mes
`sages can be displayed in sequence in full text or by number
`and short abbreviation on the alphanumeric display 26 by
`pushing the respective arrow button 30. The pager 24a is
`provided with a command button 32 for sending messages.
`The preprogrammed answers stored in the memory element
`of the pager can be loaded into the memory element in any
`desired manner. For example, the answers may be down
`loaded into the memory element from a PC or programmed
`into the unit with a special function code by wireless
`transmission, as will be understood by those skilled in the
`art. This special function code prevents the user from
`modifying the preprogrammed message on the pager itself
`without the use of a PC and/or the special function code.
`0046) The pagers of the present invention may have the
`same preprogrammed answers so that they send back a
`simple response for the particular message rather than repeat
`the entire message. As stated above, the pager 24b comprises
`an alphanumeric keypad 34 which enables the user to type
`a full-text message. The pager 24b may also be equipped to
`enable the user to select preprogrammed messages in the
`manner discussed above for the pager 24a. In addition to the
`alphanumeric keys, the pager 24b may comprise keys simi
`lar to those comprised by the pager 24a to allow the user to
`respond either by sending preprogrammed messages or by
`sending a message which the user types.
`0047 The pagers of the system 10 of the present inven
`tion can be designed for specific purposes and organizations
`Such as, for example, for rescue and security efforts and
`organizations. In emergency situations, the dispatcher (not
`shown) may only want to receive one of a limited number of
`predetermined responses from the party being paged. For
`example, the dispatcher may only want the paged party to
`respond with a “Yes” or “No” answer. For example, if a
`building is on fire, the fire department dispatcher may only
`want to know if firefighters can respond immediately. It may
`be deemed unsuitable for the dispatcher to receive an
`elaborate message, such as "I can’t respond now because I
`am at another fire location, but I will respond as soon as
`possible.” The dispatcher may only want to know who can
`respond immediately. Therefore, using preprogrammed
`messages limits the type of respo