News Information Provider (e.g., Sports, Weather, Etc.) Patents (Class 340/7.48)
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Patent number: 6765475Abstract: Radio paging receiver comprising a central unit associated with a memory containing a tree-structured database comprising a plurality of menu pages and text pages, each menu page including at least an entry capable of being selected to display on the screen another menu page or a text page. Each entry of each menu page comprises a data field capable of being displayed and a call code corresponding to another menu page or text page. Moreover, the central unit is designed for updating the stored menu pages on the basis of radio messages comprising a menu page identification code and at least one entry designed to appear in the menu page presenting said identification code.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2000Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignees: Inventel SystemesInventors: Jacques Lewiner, Eric Carreel, Xavier Debreuil, Bruno Deguet, Jérôme Lucaes, Frédéric Thepaut
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Patent number: 6747557Abstract: As system and method are provided for communicating weather conditions to remote locations, such as inside of residential homes, offices, or businesses. In accordance with one embodiment, a modified smoke detector is provided having an integrated RF receiver for receiving message packets containing information that may be conveyed through its speaker, buzzer, or other sound-emanating device. In accordance with another embodiment, a system is provided. The system which may include a mechanism for detecting a weather condition, a wireless transmitter in communication with the mechanism for detecting a weather condition, wherein the wireless transmitter configured to receive a signal from the means for detecting a weather condition and transmit a corresponding signal via electromagnetic waves. The system may also include a receiver remotely located from the wireless transmitter, the receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic signal transmitted from the smoke detector.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2000Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: StatSignal Systems, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Petite, Zachary Thomas Petite
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Publication number: 20040104808Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for providing priority messages to a plurality of wireless devices for notifying respective users of the wireless devices of the priority message. The method comprising the steps of providing for receiving a priority message from an authority; providing for assigning a priority identifier to the priority message; and, providing for transmitting the priority message to the plurality of wireless devices. The priority identifier will cause the priority message to receive priority status once received by the plurality of the wireless devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventor: Housh Khoshbin
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Patent number: 6741161Abstract: A system for providing character-based information for a moving object include a GPS receiver receiving position information of the moving object, a character radio pager for receiving control information and character information, a living information database for storing the character-based information received from the character radio pager, a moving picture database for storing the control signals and operator information, a position information database for storing the position information from the movement of the moving object and providing announcement for the present moving position of the moving object, a CPU for extracting useful information from the GPS receiver and the character radio pager or extracting an announcement stored in the position information database under the control of a scheduler, a sound card and a video card for outputting the information of the database, and an advertisement control server for transmitting control signals to the character radio pager.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1999Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: SK Telecom Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shin Bae Kim, Gun Dong Min, Yun Sup Song, Jung Kook Ki, Young Kwan Kim, Ji Won Bang
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Patent number: 6711379Abstract: The terminal device is equipped with a location judgment database which stores setting data indicating the relationships between the location of the self device and the corresponding object to be presented to the user. On the basis of the location detection data obtained by detecting the location of the self device by receiving range signals transmitted by a plurality of GPS satellites and the setting data stored in the location judgment database, corresponding objects are selected from a plurality of objects received and decoded and they are synthesized and presented as they are output to the display or the speaker. Thus, an optimal object presentation can be achieved in accordance with the status of the terminal device.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2000Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Tsutomu Owa, Toru Terauchi, Shigeru Tashiro, Satoshi Miyagawa, Koji Nakashima
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Patent number: 6687498Abstract: The communique system for cellular communication networks that operates with existing cellular communication networks to provide communique communication services to subscribers. The Communique can be unidirectional (broadcast) or bidirectional (interactive) in nature and the extent of the Communique can be network-wide broadcast or narrowcast, where cells and/or cell sectors are grouped to cover a predetermined geographic area or demographic population or subscriber interest group to transmit information to subscribers who populate the target audience for the narrowcast transmissions. The grouping of cells to form the communique coverage area for the narrowcast transmissions need not be contiguous and can comprise dynamic combinations of contiguous and non-contiguous cells as well as combinations of in-building wireless coverage areas, standard terrestrial cells, non-terrestrial cells, orchestrated in a hierarchical manner.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2001Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Vesuvius Inc.Inventors: Daniel B. McKenna, James M. Graziano
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Patent number: 6681115Abstract: The communique system for cellular communication networks operates with existing cellular communication networks to provide communique communication services to subscribers. The Communique can be unidirectional (broadcast) or bidirectional (interactive) in nature and the extent of the Communique can be network-wide broadcast or narrowcast, where cells and/or cell sectors are grouped to cover a predetermined geographic area or demographic population or subscriber interest group to transmit information to subscribers who populate the target audience for the narrowcast transmissions. The grouping of cells to form the communique coverage area for the narrowcast transmissions need not be contiguous and can comprise dynamic combinations of contiguous and non-contiguous cells. In addition, the Communique transmission to an individual subscriber can be managed using the hand off capability of the cellular communication network.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2001Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Vesuvius Inc.Inventors: Daniel B. McKenna, James M. Graziano
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Patent number: 6674357Abstract: An apparatus (10) for displaying informational messages communicated by wireless apparatus to selected ones of a plurality of display devices (16) and displayed in a sequence of such informational messages, having message sources (18, 20, 22) such as news and advertising sources that create a plurality of message records (34) which each have a cap code (36), a pin code (37) which identifies one of a plurality of message memory slots associated with the particular display device (16) to receive the message, a message (38) and at least one display characteristic (40) for the message. The cap code (36) uses conventional messaging apparatus to designate the display devices (16) to receive a particular message record (34).Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2000Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: The Transit Grapewine, LLCInventor: Paul Bermel
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Patent number: 6665533Abstract: A communication system for broadcasting information of advertisements and other desired information to a plurality of terminals such as a cellular wireless communication system, wherein a common traffic channel (CTCH) for transmitting information to users of all terminals included in the system is defined other than a traffic channel (TCH) for separately transmitting information to the terminals. The specific information for the users is transferred via the traffic channel (TCH) on demand, while advertisements are distributed regularly to the terminals by the common traffic channel (CTCH). In a terminal, the advertising information is received and stored via the CTCH at the time of cell searching, and the advertising information is displayed during waiting periods such as when the terminal is being initialized, is in a state waiting for requested information, etc.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2000Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Kazuyuki Sakoda
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Publication number: 20030218535Abstract: The present invention is a wireless device, such as a pager, that has an identity, such as a frequency and a capcode. The wireless device is provided for notifying a user of a message, such as a telephone number, directed specifically to the identity of the wireless device. The wireless device includes a housing, a display attached to the housing, a driver connected to the display for causing indicia to appear on the display, a controller, such as a microprocessor, connected to the driver for sending to the display a signal comprising indicia to appear on the display, a memory, and a receiver connected to the controller for receiving a page signal directed specifically to the identity of the wireless device and for communicating the page signal to the controller. When the controller receives the page signal received by the receiver, the controller sends to the driver a signal comprising the advertising indicia for causing the display to display the advertising indicia.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2003Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventor: Housh Khoshbin
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Publication number: 20030214386Abstract: In an information providing system which intermittently provides information which varies along with the passage of time, a plurality of comments which respectively correspond to a plurality of patterns of information change are prepared, and changes of the information which is provided are detected. A comment which corresponds to a change of information which has been detected is searched for among the plurality of comments which are prepared, and the comment which is found is added to the information which is being provided, and the edited information is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazumi Naoi, Yasushi Kikuchi, Tohru Futami
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Publication number: 20030197596Abstract: A system and method for providing user-selected information to a paging-capable device. An enhanced paging system responsive to information sources and a selection device transmits information to a paging-capable device. The enhanced paging system comprises a storing means, a selecting means, a storage device, and a transmitter. Such a system can provide user-selected information to a paging-capable device, allowing the user to control what information will be sent and when the information will be sent. Intelligent-agent software can automatically search for and store information that would be of interest to the user and can alert the user that more detailed information is available. It can also send critical information to the user without user request.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Applicant: Ameritech CorporationInventor: Arnold M. Lund
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Publication number: 20030174047Abstract: Upon providing information from an information center (1) to the user of a navigation apparatus (2) connected via a wireless/wired communication line, the user sets a category used to specify contents that he or she wants to receive, and a service timing of the contents to the user of the navigation apparatus (2) in advance. The information center (1) provides contents, which are extracted from many unspecified contents provided from a contents service center (6) and satisfy the category, to the navigation apparatus (2). The navigation apparatus (2) provides the acquired contents to the user in accordance with the service timing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2003Publication date: September 18, 2003Applicant: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Ohmura, Koji Hosoda, Kenichi Ikeda
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Patent number: 6617964Abstract: An apparatus, including an alert device having a receiver, and method are provided for receiving location-specific alert information broadcast via particular telecommunication transmitters operating within a cellular, PCS, or other wireless telecommunications network, thereby allowing delivery of a location-specific message to a user without requiring the input of data representative of the location of the alert device's receiver. The alert device includes a receiver for receiving digital messages in the form of broadcast short messages on a digital control channel, a microcomputer having a monitoring circuit that monitors received digital messages for the presence of an alert code associated with alert messages regarding an alert condition, and a plurality of peripheral devices which produce various tones and flashing lights in response to the alert device's reception of an appropriate alert message.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Safety Through Cellular, Inc.Inventor: George Lamb
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Patent number: 6597280Abstract: A method for disseminating value-added information is described, starting from known radio paging services in which on one or more frequencies, by means of an address code which establishes the identity of a certain receiver, a message can be transmitted to the receiver, wherein at least one second standard address code is provided for identifying several receivers of the radio paging service, which is transmitted on one or more frequencies used by the radio paging service. By setting up a second address code, several subscribers to a radio paging service can be addressed simultaneously. The subscribers can in this case select and call up desired value-added information.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1999Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: DeTeMobil Deutsche Telekom MobilNet GmbHInventor: Peter Daniel
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Patent number: 6594498Abstract: The communique system for cellular communication networks operates with existing cellular communication networks to provide communique communication services to subscribers. The communique can be unidirectional (broadcast) or bidirectional (interactive) in nature and the extent of the communique can be network-wide broadcast or narrowcast, where one or more cells and/or cell sectors are grouped to cover a predetermined geographic area or demographic population or subscriber interest group to transmit information to subscribers who populate the target audience for the narrowcast transmissions. The content of these transmissions can be multi-media in nature and comprising a combination of various forms of media: audio, video, graphics, text, data and the like.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2000Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Vesuvius, Inc.Inventors: Daniel B. McKenna, James M. Graziano
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Patent number: 6545588Abstract: A pager allows the input and transmission of a virtual unlimited range of messages. The pager comprises a character display control knob which controls the sequential display of alphabetic and numeric characters on a display. By rotating the knob, the displayed character advances or retreats through the appropriate alphabetic or numeric sequence. When the character is displayed that the pager user wishes to include in a message to be transmitted, the pager user presses a selection key. The process is repeated until the message is completed. The pager may then transmit the message to a paging system by radio transmission to a base station or by emitting a series of sounds in which the message is encoded. In the case of emitted sounds, the sounds are conveyed along an open phone line to the paging system where they are decoded.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1997Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.Inventors: James E. Wicks, Eduardo Sciammarella
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Patent number: 6546488Abstract: A method and apparatus for broadcasting newsgroup information to a plurality of users uses a news server, which is in communication with the Internet, a newscast transmitter, a satellite gateway, and a subscriber station. The news server gathers newsgroup information from Internet newsgroups, and the newscast transmitter, in conjunction with the satellite gateway and a satellite, distributes all of the information to a plurality of subscriber stations. The subscriber stations preferably include personal computers equipped to receive broadcast newsgroup information. The subscriber stations each include a personal news server, storage media and a newsreader. The personal news server filters newsgroup information received based on subscription information stored only local to the receiver. The filtered newsgroup information is stored on the storage media for use at a later time when a user desires to read the newsgroup information.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1998Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Douglas M. Dillon, Glenn D. Robins
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Publication number: 20030038731Abstract: A mobile station capable of connected to an information providing server via a radio link, comprises a reception history table which stores an identification of information which has been received, and a controller which prevents the same information from being received based on the identification in the reception history table.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Inventors: Ikuo Sako, Yoshiteru Tanaka
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Patent number: 6501389Abstract: An audio, video, or multimedia control system and associated method are provided. The audio, video or multimedia control system preferably includes at least one keypad responsive to a user and a keypad controller responsive to the at least one keypad. The keypad controller preferably has a multiple vector command path protocol to operate the controller through a plurality of multiple vector command paths within an application or other equivalent layer of an audio, video, or multimedia communication network. The system also preferably has a plurality of communication channels connected to the at least one audio, video or multimedia keypad controller and a plurality of audio, video, or multimedia devices each connected to at least one of the plurality of communication channels and positioned within a plurality of rooms within a home or business so as to define the audio, video, or multimedia communications network.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1999Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Niles Audio CorporationInventor: Hector M. Aguirre
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Publication number: 20020196125Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for providing content. One or more content segments can be identified or selected based on an attribute (e.g., age, location, occupation) of a person. In addition, one or more devices (e.g., computer, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant) associated with the person may be identified or selected. One or more of the content segments can be provided to one or more of the devices for further use or transmittal by the person. The person may transmit or otherwise send one or more of the content segments to people within a localized area or who ask or desire to receive the content segments. In some embodiments, a person may be compensated for receiving and/or broadcasting a content segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2001Publication date: December 26, 2002Inventors: Philip Shi-Lung Yu, David P. Greene, Edith H. Stern, Barry E. Willner
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Patent number: 6492912Abstract: A vehicle monitoring and notification system includes memory and logic. The memory stores data indicating when notification messages are scheduled for transmission to remote communications devices to warn users of impending arrivals of at least one vehicle. The logic is configured to determine that at least one of the notification messages is scheduled for transmission during a particular time period and to determine a number of notification messages that are scheduled for transmission during the particular time period. If the number exceeds a threshold number, the logic changes when the one notification message is scheduled for transmission.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2000Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: ArrivalStar, Inc.Inventor: Martin Kelly Jones
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Patent number: 6484023Abstract: An apparatus and a control system to communicate with a portable wireless communication device to act as an electronic account book. The system comprises: an information providing dealer to provide a personal bank savings; an information transmission dealer to define the mailbox of a wireless receiving device and to transmit service information from the information providing dealer; a wireless receiving device, such as an electronic account book, to receive formatted information from different information providing dealers, and for checking the authority by its own machine code. When the user of the wireless receiving device asks for a function service, the information providing dealer will communicate with the information transmission dealer and store the related data of the wireless receiving device.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1999Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Taiwan Paging Network Inc.Inventor: Hu-Mu Chen
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Patent number: 6472974Abstract: A selective call system comprising a primary station (10) and a plurality of secondary stations (12), such as paging receivers, has provision for the primary station sending to a predetermined secondary station a qualifying call from which data, for example loyalty points, can be determined and credited to the user of a secondary station. In one embodiment, the primary station (10) receives the data and compiles a point-to-point qualifying call which includes a field containing the data and the identity code of the predetermined secondary station. Optionally, a security field and a checksum may also be included in the qualifying call compiled. The addressed secondary station (12) decodes the received qualifying call and determines the data which is stored in a non-volatile store (48) which accumulates the items of the data. The user of the secondary station is able to display the data held in the non-volatile store (48) on the secondary station's own display panel (42).Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1999Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Martin A. Geeves, Robert A. J. Tuck, Philip E. Tyler
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Patent number: 6462665Abstract: A method and apparatus of an alert system for notifying subscribers of weather or hazardous conditions. A weather-tracking source or service broadcasts weather or hazardous conditions across the nation to alert the general public of potentially dangerous climatic and hazardous conditions that may arise from time to time. A weather service provider receives the weather condition broadcasts from the weather-tracking source or service and transmits weather or hazardous condition signals to subscribers having an alert unit. The alert unit is a passive device capable of receiving and warning the subscribers of the weather or hazardous condition broadcasts.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Wheelock, Inc.Inventors: Peter B. Tarlton, Daniel P. Millerick, Craig R. Walters
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Patent number: 6392532Abstract: In a wireless apparatus, a receiving unit receives a wireless signal, extracts a call number and a reception data subsequent to the call number from the received signal. Also, the receiving unit generates a determination signal indicative of whether a message reception mode or an information reception mode is set for the call number. A data converting unit performs a data conversion to the reception data based on a data conversion format for the call number to produce a new data when the determination signal indicates the information reception mode. A control unit displays the new data on a display unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1998Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Shigeki Minata
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Patent number: 6381465Abstract: A monitoring and alert system includes a wireless device that sends a monitoring request to a remote server. When the conditions specified by the monitoring request are met, the server generates an SMS alert message. The server determines the maximum length in characters of the SMS message and whether there is sufficient space remaining for an advertisement. If sufficient space is available, the server generates an advertisement and appends it to the SMS alert message. The alert message with appended advertising is then sent to the wireless device.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1999Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Leap Wireless International, Inc.Inventors: Vincent Chern, Kevin Thornton
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Publication number: 20020033753Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method/system for facilitating and/or prompting actions on the part of a user. The disclosed method/system utilizes a computer network to communicate with user(s) on a periodic basis to prompt action(s) and the user communicates via the computer network as to responsive action(s) taken. In a preferred embodiment, subsequent prompted action(s) reflect and/or build upon a user's prior action(s) based upon predetermined parameter(s) and/or criteria. The disclosed method/system may be used to promote and/or enhance a user's health fitness and nutrition, and other aspects of the user's life. Personalized information is solicited from the user, and is used to guide the prompts subsequently transmitted to the user. Action menus are provided from which a user may select desired areas of concentration, and the disclosed system/method generally forecloses the possibility that the user will select inappropriate or unhealthy activities based on attributes/limitations of that individual.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2001Publication date: March 21, 2002Inventor: Sally Imbo
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Publication number: 20010052841Abstract: A system of advertising has a source of advertising information adapted to transmit advertising informations of different contents substantially corresponding to objects to be advertised situated in different advertising zones and formed as a server unit, a plurality of moving vehicles, each of the vehicles being provided with a receiver for receiving the advertising informations of different contents, each of the vehicles being provided with further unit for receiving a signal which does not contain advertising information, each of the vehicles being provided with vehicle location determination allowing unit adapted to allow determination of a location of a respective one of the vehicles, each of the vehicles being provided with a display for displaying advertising information, and the server unit determining a zone in which the vehicle is located and transmitting to the further receiving unit of the vehicle the signal which does not contain advertising information to select in a vehicle and display on the dType: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2001Publication date: December 20, 2001Inventor: Lenny Polyakov
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Patent number: 6329904Abstract: An apparatus, including an alert device having a receiver, and method are provided for receiving location-specific alert information broadcast via particular telecommunication transmitters operating within a cellular, PCS, or other wireless telecommunications network, thereby allowing delivery of a location-specific message to a user without requiring the input of data representative of the location of the alert device's receiver. The alert device includes a receiver for receiving digital messages in the form of broadcast short messages on a digital control channel, a microcomputer having a monitoring circuit that monitors received digital messages for the presence of an alert code associated with alert messages regarding an alert condition, and a plurality of peripheral devices which produce various tones and flashing lights in response to the alert device's reception of an appropriate alert message.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Safety Through Cellular, Inc.Inventor: George William Lamb
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Publication number: 20010040511Abstract: An interlink system for conveying security quotations and other related data to remote locations by means of satellite down link and preferably providing a satellite up link for remote users to place authenticated orders for securities. The satellite uplink/downlink is preferably by synchronous satellite. The hand held portable receiver/transmitter for receiving a plurality of said quotations and broadcasting data representing each of said orders with appropriate encrypting has storage capacity individually storing the received data representing each of said quotations. A display on the handheld unit coupled to the storage allows the user to display individually selecting data representing any one of the received quotations. The device can also store and transmit an encrypted, authenticated order to transact securities by means of the handheld unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 1998Publication date: November 15, 2001Inventors: BRENDYL TRENT BUSHNER, FREDRICK WILLIAM BUSHNER II
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Publication number: 20010015695Abstract: In a wireless apparatus, a receiving unit receives a wireless signal, extracts a call number and a reception data subsequent to the call number from the received signal. Also, the receiving unit generates a determination signal indicative of whether a message reception mode or an information reception mode is set for the call number. A data converting unit performs a data conversion to the reception data based on a data conversion format for the call number to produce a new data when the determination signal indicates the information reception mode. A control unit displays the new data on a display unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 1998Publication date: August 23, 2001Inventor: SHIGEKI MINATA