Abstract: A one-way individual or group addressable communication link by paging system protocol delivers to a small data terminal of an entertainment or education device command messages relevant to current real world information such as news or weather information, and also relevant to current television series storylines. The device provides a separate and independent mechanism augmenting educational or entertainment aspects of current events or television programming without requiring an expensive user interface mechanism in implementation of complex and robust control and configuration features.

Abstract: Advertising information is preloaded into a collection of remote receiving and presentation devices. A presentation command delivered to the device then causes presentation of the stored advertisement. Each stored advertisement is also associated with one or more presentation conditions causing, when detected, automatic presentation. Such presentation conditions include proximity to a given location, scheduled periodic presentation, time of day presentation, and a variety of other conditions detectable at the remote presentation device. The illustrated method and apparatus for advertising presentation requires but a single broadcast signal transmission of a given advertisement, but provides multiple presentations of such advertisement at the presenting devices. In this manner, the advertiser enjoys efficient use of broadcast signal transmission time.

Abstract: A vehicle information device and collects information concerning specific geographic points of interest. The operator recalls for display such information, including a display showing direction and distance of travel to a designated geographic point of interest relative to a then-current vehicle location. Dual channel advertising is transmitted by voice broadcast and by data broadcast. Upon hearing in the voice broadcast an advertisement of interest, the operator captures the associated data broadcast including, among other detailed text message information, the location of the advertiser. Distance and relative direction of travel from the current vehicle location to the geographic point of interest is thereby presented. Multiple geographic points of interest are stored for selective review whereby the user constructs a database containing locations of particular interest to a particular person.

Abstract: Group message delivery in a time multiplexed paging system is accomplished by providing in normal message packets a group ring indicator. A paging device collecting a message interrogates the group ring indicator to determine availability of a pending group message. If a group message is available, the paging device can target a dedicated time slot associated with group message transmission. In this manner, a single transmission of a group message is made available to all paging devices of the paging system. In one embodiment, the group ring indicator is a single bit indicating merely availability of a pending group message, the paging device then targeting and collecting the available group message to determine whether the paging device subscribes to that particular group message service. In a second embodiment, the group ring indicator indicates not only availability of a group message, but also the type of group message available.

Abstract: A paging system transmits consecutively numbered page messages to receivers. Receivers detect missing page messages by interrogation of received page message numbers, and a missing page message is indicated by a gap in received page message numbers. However, page messages may be separated by long time intervals and a gap in received message numbers can not be detected until a subsequent page message is received. To more immediately detect a missing page message, a sequence message generated by the paging system provides a last transmitted page message number to receivers during otherwise unused portions of the transmission bandwidth. The receivers can thereby detect missing page messages without waiting until receiving a subsequent page message and without depleting the transmission bandwidth resource.

Abstract: A fishing probe apparatus comprises an immersible probe attached to the end of an optic fiber fishing line which carries optic signals transmitted by the probe to a receiver and display unit on the fishing pole. The probe transmits data pertaining to aquatic conditions in the vicinity of a leader and hook attached to the probe.

Abstract: A voice mail system includes method and apparatus for muting a previously recorded audio signal upon detection of a DTMF signal to differentiate between recorded DTMF signals and valid DTMF commands. A DTMF signal detected after muting is recognized as an invalid command.

Abstract: The present invention is a magnetic tape-based "voice mail" multi-user message system. The system transmits audio prompts to callers to help guide them through the various procedures. The callers respond with Touch-Tone commands. A novel circuit is provided to detect these tone commands without significant interference from the audio prompt signals. This circuit is highly insensitive to deviations in the impedance of the incoming telephone line from its expected value. A circuit is also provided to prevent Touch-Tone commands which are recorded on tape from being re-executed when they are played back from the tape. A single L.E.D. indicator on each recipient's telephone set indicates the status of the system: idle with new message waiting; idle without new message waiting; busy with new message waiting; or busy without new message waiting.