Abstract: A bipolar return-to-zero signal received from a communication channel (302) is sampled (402) to provide signal information that is processed (FIG. 5) to determine signal variation information. In accordance with this signal variation information, at least one operational parameter of an equalization system (400) is varied.

Abstract: The pager receiver including a conventional address decoder, an alert envelope waveform generator, and an alert function mapper is disclosed. The pager is individually and uniquely characterized by programming the alert function mapper to govern the generation of assigned alert annunciation patterns by the waveform generator in response to selected decoded pager addresses and associated functions thereof, and to inhibit alert generation by the waveform generator in response to non-selected decoded pager addresses and associated functions thereof. In one embodiment, the alert signal waveform generator is enabled to respond to the alert function mapper only when the pager address is decoded by the decoder.

Abstract: A paging receiver device and method are disclosed in which analog information transmitted from an external source such as a paging transmitter are received and decoded. The analog information includes at least one voice message. The voice message is recovered, digitized, and stored in one of a plurality of message slots in a memory of the paging receiver. In response to a paging user's request, the digitized stored message is recalled from memory, reconverted from digital information to analog information, and used to produce audible voice information being a replica of the original analog voice message.

Abstract: A selective call system is provided in which string searching or text matching operations are performed on data from data generating devices such as condition sensors in a security system. When a predetermined string is identified, an address of a selective call receiver such as a pager is generated and that receiver is called. The invention is applicable to other applications where data is generated which includes predetermined character strings.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for saving stored messages in a digital stored voice paging receiver. The digital stored voice paging receiver includes a plurality of message slots, each slot capable of storing a digitized voice message. A status value associated with a message slot is representative of the status of the message in the slot. A first embodiment of the method stores messages in the message slots by chronologically replacing older messages. A second embodiment of the method orders the stored messages in a predetermined priority. A stored message is replaced by an incoming message when the incoming message priority status is greater than the stored message priority status.

Abstract: An automatic telephone answering device employing an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) decoder to selectively perform operations on a telephone call is described. The device may perform such operations as to selectively not respond, end, record or forward a telephone call wherein the selection is dependent upon the ANI signal associated with the telephone call, and the operations are determined prior to the reception of the telephone call. In using the automatic answering device in a paging system, a method of selectively forwarding a telephone message to a paging device and ultimately to a pager is described, wherein the selection is dependent upon the ANI signal associated with the telephone call. Additionally, a way to selectively distribute message storage between a telephone answering machine and a pager is described.

Abstract: A heterodyne stage of a receiver which includes a conventional mixer circuit and local oscillator circuit further includes a differential amplifier circuit which measures the amplitude of the injection signal generated by the local oscillator circuit and controls it precisely to a desired reference level by adjusting the current bias supply to the local oscillator circuit within a banded range to ensure start-up of the local oscillator upon energization and to protect against loss of injection signal under all operating conditions. The differential amplifier circuit provides for a precise amplitude reference setting and sufficient closed-loop gain for controlling the amplitude of the injection signal with a minimum of error between the measured and reference values.

Abstract: A pager receiver includes at least one lock-out circuit, an out-of range circuit, and a single timer coupled to the lock-out and out-of range circuits and responsive to timing signals generated by the pager for generating an initiated one of either the lock-out timer interval or out-of range time interval. Each lock-out circuit of the pager receiver corresponds to an address function programmed therein and is activated by the function detect signal generated in response to the initial decoding of the corresponding address function to initiate the generation of the lock-out time interval by the single timer and to inhibit the corresponding alert annunciation from responding to subsequently generated function detect signals corresponding thereto for the duration of the lock-out time interval. The single timer is also initiated to generate the out-of-range time interval at the generation of each sync pulse timing signal by the pager receiver, but only in the absence of an activated lock-out circuit.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for automatically selecting one of first and second loop bandwidth states of a phase lock loop circuit of a frequency synthesizer. The phase lock loop circuit is governed by a reference frequency signal and a feedback frequency signal to adjust the frequency of the synthesized frequency signal to a frequency channel setting. Each of the reference and feedback frequency signals include one phase indication per frequency period. The feedback frequency signal is phase and frequency representative of the synthesized frequency signal.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer which has at least one programmably characterized phase lock loop circuit includes a buffer memory and an interface controller responsive to operational codes received from a central controller to direct transfer of data words for characterization of the phase lock loop circuit among the at least one phase lock loop circuit, the buffer memory, and the central controller. In one embodiment, the transfer of data words between the central controller and phase lock loop circuit or buffer memory are performed serially in accordance with a prespecified protocol and governed by a clock signal generated by the central controller. Data word transfers between the buffer memory and at least one phase lock loop circuit may also be performed serially in accordance with a prespecified protocol, but may be governed autonomously by an internal clock signal generated by the frequency synthesizer.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer which includes at least one phase lock loop operative in a selected loop bandwidth state includes a dynamically programmable control circuit for setting the frequency range of its selected loop bandwidth state. In another aspect, the frequency synthesizer may include a plurality of phase lock loop circuits; and a common bias circuit programmably operative to generate at least one bias signal which is coupled commonly to the plurality of phase lock loop circuits for setting a common frequency range for the loop bandwidth states of all of the phase lock loop circuits.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer governed by a battery saving signal having sleep and awake cycles comprises a phase locked loop and a control circuit for enhancing the restart operation of the phase locked loop at the commencement of each awake cycle of the battery saving signal. More specifically, the phase locked loop includes a phase detector for locking the frequencies generated by a reference oscillator and a voltage controlled oscillator by adjusting a signal in a storage device used for governing the voltage controlled oscillator. During the sleep and awake cycles of the battery saving signal, the oscillators and phase detector are inhibited and enabled, respectively, in their operations. In addition, the storage device maintains a desired governing signal for the voltage controlled oscillator during the sleep cycles. A problem arises as a result of the oscillators not being simultaneously effectively enabled at the commencement of an awake cycle.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) pager is provided for use in a paging system including 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. To accurately control the ack-back transmit frequency, the pager receives and down-converts the F.sub.RX signal thus producing a down-converted F.sub.C signal, the frequency of which is measured and stored. The pager selects which sub-band of a plurality of frequency sub-bands within a predetermined range of frequencies is to be used for transmission of the ack-back signal. The pager determines a frequency offset F.sub.

Abstract: A paging system is provided for transferring data and voice messages to a unique address of a paging receiver. The system includes a paging controller, an encoder, a transmitter, and a paging receiver. The paging controller receives voice and data information from an entry device. The encoder, coupled to the paging controller, encodes the voice and data information into a composite paging signal designated for the unique address of the paging receiver. The composite paging signal is transmitted to the paging receiver by the transmitter. The paging receiver receives and decodes the composite paging signal to receive the data and voice messages. The data are displayed simultaneously with the voice message being furnished to the paging receiver used. In one embodiment, a PBX system automatically provides the data message in the form of a telephone number. The paging system automatically provides the telephone number of the sender along with the voice message to the paging receiver user.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) paging system is provided which includes a central station which transmits a group of message signals to an 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 signals using different respective pseudorandom codes, a different pseudorandom code being dynamically allocated to each of the pagers in the group.

Abstract: A paging controller for a paging communication system exchanges information by a global multiplexed bus arrangement. The bus arrangement permits voice, data and control information to be exchanged between a common memory and a plurality of I/O modules in a common communication bus. The timing signals of the bus arrangement including the I/O modules are synchronized to expeditiously exchange information among the modules. In operation, each module has a preassigned address representative of a sequence number in a predetermined succession order to permit each module to access the bus.

Abstract: An acknowledge back (ack-back) paging system is provided 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.

Abstract: A selective call paging receiver for receiving analog voice information converts the analog information to digital information and stores the digital information in a memory of the paging receiver. In a first embodiment, the paging receiver includes a hardware controlled decoder and an audio producing module. The memory is divided into a plurality of fixed storage areas to allow the decoder to store a digitized voice message in a fixed storage area. If the storage capacity of the fixed storage area is not filled, the audio producing module fills the remainder in a predetermined bit pattern. In a second embodiment, the paging receiver includes a microprocessor controlled decoder. The microprocessor stores a digitized voice message in the memory, depending upon the length of the voice message, thus eliminating the fixed storage area.

Abstract: An electronic paging receiver for reminding a user of an important event includes a time of day clock for recording the time when a data message is received. The paging receiver computes a future alert time to remind the user of the receipt of the data message. Additionally, the user may enter a future alert time to generate a future alert. Further, the paging receiver is capable of detecting a special time/date field in the received data message to automatically generate a future alert.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the illumination of a display used to prevent messages in a pager is described. A microcomputer is used for controlling the operation of the display in response to a read switch being actuated. A light switch, coupled to an illumination circuit provides display illumination upon the light switch being manually activated. The microcomputer also couples to the light switch to allow monitoring of the switch actuation. Upon actuation of the light switch, when a message is being displayed, the microcomputer will maintain the illumination of the display, even after the light switch has been released. Once the message has been read, the microcomputer resumes monitoring the light switch, and the illumination of the display is terminated.