Abstract: A paging receiver having acknowledge back capability is provided with the capability to request a received message to be forwarded to an alternate paging receiver in a paging system after having received its address and associated message. The paging receiver includes an entry device for selecting the alternate paging receiver to which the message is further to be sent, and after the selection is made, the paging receiver generates the acknowledge back response requesting the message be further sent to the selected alternate paging receiver.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is disclosed for storing and subsequently transmitting later messages for system pagers with acknowledge back capability that nevertheless fail to acknowledge back in the first instance. Addresses are retransmitted for pagers initially failing to acknowledge back on a continuous periodic basis until such acknowledge back is received, at which time the message intended therefor is sent, or a predetermined time period expires.

Abstract: A system for transmitting long text messages includes a plurality of transmission cells defining different geographical areas, each having a transmitter for simulcast address transmission at a first data bit rate and for transmitting the address and a message at a second data bit rate higher than the first data bit rate. A paging transceiver generates and transmits an acknowledgment signal in response to receiving a transmitted address at the first data bit rate. Receivers located within each of the transmission cells receive the transmitted acknowledgment signal. An apparatus responsive to the received acknowledgment signal identifies the transmission cell in which the paging transceiver is located effecting the selection of the transmitter in the transmission cell in which the paging transceiver is located to transmit the address and message at the second data bit rate higher than the first data bit rate.

Abstract: A multiple frequency message system includes a transmitter for transmitting coded message signals on a plurality of channels of which at least one channel to be assigned to each of a plurality of geographical areas. The coded message signals include channel identification information and message information being transmitted in a sequence of coded transmission slots on each of the plurality of channels. The sequence of coded transmission slots are transmitted offset in time such that a particular transmission slot is not simultaneously transmitted on any of the plurality of channels in each geographical area.A receiver capable of receiving the coded message signals during a predetermined coded transmission slot being transmitted on the plurality of channels is also provided.

Abstract: A communication receiver is disclosed which can decode signals transmitted by radio frequency propagation. A programmable controller uses instructions in a non-volatile reprogrammable memory to decode and process the signals, and to output the information contained in the signals in a useable form. The controller also responds to predetermined signals by decoding and processing information for new decoding and operating instructions, and stores the data in a temporary memory. Logic circuitry responds to subsequent predetermined signals to enable selective reprogramming of the non-volatile reprogrammable memory by data stored in the temporary memory to alter the decoding characteristics of the receiver.

Abstract: A dual bandwidth crystal controlled oscillator is described having a first transconductance amplifier providing sufficient gain to maintain oscillation with an oscillator crystal at a minimum current drain. A second transconductance amplifier is provided which can be selectively coupled to the first transconductance amplifier, thereby augmenting the gain of the first transconductance amplifier to provide the capability for rapid oscillator start-up following battery saver operation. The dual bandwidth crystal controlled oscillator can be utilized in conventional oscillator and frequency synthesizer applications.

Abstract: A portable communication device provides user programmable control of addresses to which the portable communication device is responsive as a function of time. The device comprises a receiver, user programmable timing and function control, a memory, a controller, a decoder, and an alerting circuit to provide control of address selection as a function of time, and to alert the user of the selected addresses and messages received during the corresponding programmed time intervals. Control of address alerting priority, receiver operating frequency, and silent mode operation are also provided in conjunction with the user programmed address selection.

Abstract: A selective call receiver for receiving and displaying information in a nationwide communication system includes circuitry to decode and process transmitted channel identification information. The receiver displays channel identification indicia in response to a user interrogation thereby confirming proper operation of the receiver on the system at the expected location.

Abstract: A paging system is provided for transferring information to a paging receiver. The system includes a central controller having a paging controller, an encoder, and a first transmitter. The paging controller receives the information and data designating the paging receiver from an entry device. The encoder, in response to the data, generates a selective call paging signal designating the paging receiver. The selective call paging signal is transmitted to the paging receiver by the first transmitter. The paging receiver receives and decodes the selective call paging signal generating a control signal. A switching device is provided for selecting a normal and a deferred paging operating mode. In response to the control signal, a coded acknowledgment signal is generated indicating the selected paging receiver mode, and transmitted back to the paging controller by a second transmitter included in the paging receiver.

Abstract: A low voltage LED driver circuit utilizes a small magnitude inductor in combination with an astable multivibrator to supply sufficient operating voltage to illuminate an LED from a supply voltage source less than the LED's typical operating voltage. By use of the high pulse rate of multivibrator in conjunction with the small magnitude inductor, the LED is turned on and off at a rate at which it appears to be continuously illuminated to the human eye.

Abstract: An integral portable receiver/antenna system is provided which includes an isolation coupler element exhibiting a geometry which is substantially closed upon itself and which is situated between the receiver antenna and the input of the receiver. A portion of the antenna element is distributively coupled to a portion of the coupler element. The receiver/antenna system further includes a ground plane which is sufficiently close to a portion of the coupler element such that the ground plane is distributively coupled to the coupler element. The coupler element prevents the formation of undesired signal loss paths between the antenna and the receiver and provides for impedance matching the input of the receiver to the antenna. The coupler element also couples signals to the receiver input which would otherwise be lost to the ground plane.

Abstract: A constant propagation delay current reference is provided having an external source providing a reference frequency signal. A phase lock loop is provided which is responsive to the reference frequency signal and to an operating frequency signal to provide a current reference signal at the output of the loop. The current reference signal is provided to a current to frequency converter which generates the operating frequency signal. A current mirror, also coupled to the phase lock loop output provides an output current proportional to the current reference signal which is suitable for providing the injector current for I.sup.2 L devices. The output current tracks the process, voltage and temperature variations of the integrated circuit, allowing the injector currents to be optimized for maintaining constant propagation delay in the circuits being powered.

Abstract: A paging receiver includes a nonvolatile memory which is readable for controlling the operation of the paging device and is capable of being partitioned into a plurality of regions. A protect means is also included for allowing modification to a selected region of the nonvolatile memory in response to an unlock signal. In a first embodiment, the unlock signal is externally applied to the paging receiver. In a second embodiment, the unlock signal is generated when a predetermined coded signal stored in the paging receiver matches a received coded signal. In a third embodiment, the protect means further includes a switch means to permit the selected region of memory to be modified while preventing other regions of memory to be modified.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) pager is provide for use in a paging system which includes a central station which transmits a group of message signals to a group of ack-back pagers which are addressed as a group. The users of the group of addressed ack-back pagers indicate a response to their respective pagers thus providing ack-back data. The pagers in the group of addressed ack-back pagers then simultaneously transmit back to the central station their ack-back data on different frequency sub-bands, a different frequency sub-band being allocated to each of the pagers in the group. The invention provides apparatus for controlling the frequency of the selected sub-band with very high accuracy.