Abstract: A radio modem (100) having application software (128) stored therein receives upgrade information via over-the-air selective call messaging. The upgrade information comprises upgrade installation information and upgrade data. A microprocessor (108) compiles the upgrade installation information and operates to upgrade the application software (128) in accordance with the upgrade installation information and in response to the upgrade data. Likewise, application software in the computer (302) can be upgraded by over-the-air transmission of upgrade information to the radio modem (100).

Abstract: A selective call receiver (10) includes a display (22) for presenting received information signals. The display (22) is pivotally attached to the selective call receiver's housing (24) so that the display [means] (22) may be pivoted outwardly from the housing to facilitate viewing the display [means].

Abstract: A selective calling receiver comprises a receiving section for receiving data including call numbers of individual receivers, function designation numbers and message data, an indicating unit for indicating reception of the data, a RAM for storing received message data, and an LCD for displaying the stored message data. The selective calling receiver further comprises a resettable timer which starts a time counting operation upon completion of reception of the message data following the call number of the receiver and outputs a signal upon expiration of a predetermined time period. When the selective calling receiver has subsequently received the call number of the receiver before the timer completes the time counting operation, it stores in the RAM all message data which have been received before the completion of the time counting operation of the timer.

Abstract: A system and method for encoding and decoding page messages includes an encoder for encoding and classifying each word of the page message. Words found in one of one or more word dictionaries are encoded into corresponding compressed codes. A header code identifying either the dictionary or the classification of the word is associated with each word. The encoded message is transmitted to a page receiver where each word is decoded based upon the header code associated therewith. If the header code indicates that the word is a compressed code stored in a word dictionary, the compressed code is used to retrieve the word from the dictionary. If the header code indicates that the word is not stored in a word dictionary, the words are decoded differently, depending upon their classification.

Abstract: A selective calling receiver enabling a user to know exactly whether the receiver used by the user is placed within an area where a transmitted radio wave can be received well. The selective calling receiver collates a frame synchronization signal in the transmitted signal at predetermined intervals and as far as the collation is successful, the synchronization is kept and the receiver is operated in an intermittent reception mode. When the collation is not successful, an alarm is issued after a predetermined time to inform the user that the receiver has been placed outside of the area where the transmitted radio wave can be received well.

Abstract: A method (200) and apparatus (100, 402) are shown for determining whether first and second data messages in a communication system are duplicates. The method comprises forming (304) from the first and second data messages a corresponding pair of first and second message identifiers (120, 126). The identifiers (120, 126) comprise bits generated from first and second message characteristic values calculated (206) from portions (118, 124) of the first and second data messages. The method further comprises comparing 316 the first and second message identifiers (120, 126) to determine whether the first and second message identifiers (120, 126) are substantially equivalent to each other, substantially equivalent identifiers (120, 126) being indicative that the first and second data messages are duplicates.

Abstract: A selective call receiver system (150, 200) includes a base site (150) which transmits paging information (100) having a plurality of batches (1-to-N). The base site (150) comprises timer (266) for calculating a time between a first of the at least two successive paging transmissions, and counter (266) for counting a number of batches to be transmitted in the at least two successive paging transmissions. A base site processor (254), coupled to the timer/counter (266), processes the paging information. The base site processor (254) comprises encoder (262) for encoding a portion of the first of the at least two successive paging transmissions with the calculated time and the number batches to be transmitted in the first paging transmission. A base site transmitter (252), coupled to the base site processor (254), transmits the at least two successive paging transmissions according to the calculated time to a plurality of selective call receivers (200).

Abstract: A transponder for use in an object identification system including an interrogator which transmits a continuous interrogation signal and detects a responsive identification signal transmitted by the transponder. The transponder receives and detects the interrogation signal and, in response to receipt of the interrogation signal, produces a repeating identification signal having a fixed number of binary bits consisting of an identification data portion of a specified number of consecutive bits less than one half of the fixed number of bits, and a synchronization pattern of consecutive bits consisting of first, second and third bits of alternating binary values, a consecutive sequence of a plurality of bits which are all of the same binary value as the second bit, and a single bit of the same binary value as the first and third bits. The identification signal is modulated onto a carrier signal and transmitted.

Abstract: A selective call receiver includes receiver circuitry (20) and decoder circuitry (32). The receiver circuitry (20) receives selective call signals, including reprogramming messages (100). The decoder circuitry (32) decodes the reprogramming messages (100) and produces data in response thereto. The data includes program information (110) and reprogramming data (112). A reprogrammable memory device (70) stores option information for control of various operational features of the selective call receiver. A processor (34) is coupled to the decoder circuitry (32) and the reprogrammable memory device (70) and reprograms the option information in response to the reprogramming data (112) and according to the program information (110).

Abstract: A selective call receiver (200) includes a receiver (204) receiving paging signals including a preamble, a synchronization codeword, and at least address information. A controller (206) controlling a supply of power to the receiver for receiving the paging signals. A synchronization obtaining circuitry (404, 406, 224), coupled to the receiver (204), obtains synchronization to the paging signal. The synchronization obtaining circuitry (404, 406, 224) includes a baud rate detector and synchronization codeword detector, coupled to the baud rate detector, detects the synchronization codeword. An address decoder, responsive to the synchronization codeword being detected, decodes the address information. A synchronization maintaining circuitry (404, 408, 224) maintains synchronization to the paging signals during address decoding. The synchronization maintaining circuitry (404, 408, 224) includes circuitry for enabling the power switch (210) which enables the receiver (204) for receiving the paging signals.

Abstract: A selective call receiver (100) comprising an information display (118) and a processor (106) operationally coupled to the information display (118). The information display (118) presents at least information representing an area map (402) with a plurality of operating regions (403, 404, 405) in which the selective call receiver can receive an information signal from a selected channel. Each region in the plurality of operating regions (403, 404, 405) corresponds to a predetermined selective call signaling channel that may be selected for operation by activating at least one user activated control (407). The at least one user activated control (407) is operationally coupled to the processor (106) for effecting selection and reception of the information signal on the channel associated with the selected region on the information display (118).

Abstract: A selective call receiver receives a selective call signal (400) comprising a preamble signal (410). The selective call receiver comprises receiver circuitry (102) for receiving and demodulating the selective call signal (400). A preamble detector (105) is coupled to the receiver circuitry (102) for detecting the preamble signal (410), and a battery saver circuit (126) selectively activates and deactivates the receiver circuitry (102) in response to a signal from a processor (114). The processor (114) provides the signal to the battery saver circuit (126) to deactivate and activate the receiver circuitry (102) during reception of the preamble signal (410) in response to and subsequent to the preamble detector (105) detecting a portion of the preamble signal (410).

Abstract: A selective call receiver (200) includes a receiver (204) which receives paging signals, the paging signals have a preamble (102), a synchronization codeword (104), and at least an address information (108, 110). A synchronization obtaining circuit (206), coupled to the receiver (204), obtains synchronization to the paging signal. The synchronization obtaining circuit (206) has a preamble detector (404) which detects preamble (102), a synchronization codeword detector (406), responsive to the preamble being detected, detects the synchronization codeword (104), and address decoder (408), responsive to the synchronization codeword being detected, decodes the address information (108, 110). A synchronization maintaining circuit (224, 408) maintains synchronization to the paging signals during the address decoding, and a baud rate detector (224) detects valid and invalid baud rates during address decoding.

Abstract: A paging radio receiver system includes a paging radio receiver having an EEPROM storing a predetermined specific pass word, and an access unit comprising an input apparatus, and a comparator comparing a pass word supplied from the input apparatus with the specific pass word, and an access circuit for access to the EEPROM. The comparator supplies an access enabling signal to the access circuit when the supplied pass word is equal to the predetermined specific pass word.

Abstract: A selective call receiver (100) for transmitting information to an external electronic device (208), such as a personal computer, includes a memory (125) for storing a predetermined status menu including at least one status category associated with internal status information of the selective call receiver (108). When the selective call receiver (100) is interactively coupled to the external electronic device (208) and receives a user-initiated status command therefrom, the predetermined status menu is retrieved from the memory (125) and transmitted to the external electronic device (208).

Abstract: A call selective receiver body includes a built-in rechargeable small battery and a small vibrator, and a belt clip for receiving the receiver body includes a built-in dry battery having an electric capacity significantly greater than that of the small battery in the receiver body and a relatively large built-in vibrator. When the receiver body is put into the belt clip, a vibrator control signal output terminal of the receiver body is connected with a vibrator control signal input terminal of the belt clip, and electric power input terminals of the receiving body are connected with electric power output terminals of the belt clip, whereby the electric power source for the receiver is switched from the smaller battery in the receiver body to the greater battery in the belt clip; the rechargeable small battery in the receiver body starts being recharged; and the vibrator in the belt clip is made in action.

Abstract: In a network of communication systems, a communication resource allocator of any of the communication systems may reclaim system resources from inactive communication systems. This may be accomplished by having the communication resource allocator transmit at least one polling message to the communication unit to determine whether the communication unit is in need of the at least one system resource. If the communication unit does not respond to the polling message, the communication resource allocator determines whether the communication unit is inactive. If the communication unit is inactive, the communication resource allocator reclaims the at least one system resource from the communication unit.

Abstract: In a selective call receiver for presenting a plurality of messages to a user, a method comprises the steps of receiving (205) a message, storing (208) the received message in a memory, and determining (210) whether the received message is substantially equivalent to previously stored messages. A further step includes displaying (225) a duplicate message icon if the received message is a duplicate message that is substantially equivalent to one of the previously stored messages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a self-test feature for an apparatus utilizing an optical communication link, such as commercial laundry appliances having a data acquisition system for storing information on appliance usage for subsequent transmission to a portable data unit. A signal having at least one known characteristic is applied to the transmitting portion of an optical transceiver, and at least a portion of the resulting transmitted optical energy is coupled to the optical detector of the receiving section of the same transceiver. The characteristics of the resulting output of the receiver elements of the transceiver corresponding to the coupled signal are compared to the corresponding characteristic of the known input signal. Correspondence of these characteristics will confirm valid operation of the transmitting elements and the receiving elements, and thus verify operation of the optical transceiver.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radio paging receiver wherein changes from the synchronous state to the asynchronous state and vice versa of a radio receiver are detected, the period of time that the receiver is in the asynchronous state is measured by a timing means and recorded, and the recorded period of time is displayed.