Abstract: A selective call receiver, such as a pager, stores an incoming message without interrupting the operation of the receiver. One set of data items displayed on a display of the receiver is updated independent of another set of data items. The updating function allows for the display of display formats such as forms and tables, wherein only the information needed to fill in the table is transmitted, the header information being retained from one update to the next.

Abstract: A selective call receiver comprises circuitry for receiving a first signal having a first address and a first information format, and a second signal having a second address and a second information format; and a device for presenting a message comprising the first and second information formats. The information formats may comprise any of, for example, numeric, alphanumeric, and graphic displays and a voice output.

Abstract: A digital synchronizer examines a signal transmitted at a predetermined baud rate for a predetermined time. Upon completion of the predetermined time, a decision is made as to whether or not the signal included the predetermined baud rate. If the signal includes the predetermined baud rate, a bit clock is established indicative of the boundaries and center of each baud symbol. The synchronizer samples the signal at a multiple of the baud rate and accumulates the phase relationship between the samples and transitions of the signal during the predetermined time. Upon conclusion of the predetermined time, the distribution of the phase relationships is examined and the presence or absence of signal is determined. If the presence is determined, the bit clock is established.

Abstract: A portable receiver has a time of day clock and receives a signal indicative of the location of the portable receiver. The portable receiver has a memory which has a plurality of locations with corresponding time zones. Upon reception of the location signal, the receiver determines the time zone of the location and the time zone of the time of day clock. The time of day clock is then adjusted to correspond to the time zone of the location. The location signal may also be used to adjust the operating frequency of the receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a signal is capable of determining the presence or absence of a signal having a predetermined baud rate. By initializing counting registers to either first or second values, and receiving the signal, either the presence or absence of the baud rate may be more rapidly detected. Rapid detection provides for improved battery savings when the invention is used within a portable receiver such as a pager. The invention provides for positive detection of the predetermined baud rate while rejecting a baud rate being an integer divisor of the predetermined baud rate. Additionally, as a result of the determination of the presence of the predetermined baud rate, a sample clock may be established for receiving data at the baud rate.

Abstract: A reconfigurable deinterleaver for deinterleaving up to N interleaved codewords, each up to M bits in length comprises a memory array, a memory for storing predetermined deinterleaver parameters, a controller, and column and row selector means. The memory array is configured with N bit rows by M bit columns, and is capable of selectably deinterleaving interleaved codewords. The predetermined deinterleaver parameters define the number and length of the interleaved codewords to be deinterleaved. The controller is responsive to the deinterleaver parameters for controlling the writing of interleaved codewords into the memory array and for reading deinterleaved codewords from the memory array. Column and row selector means provide for writing interleaved codewords into, and reading deinterleaved codewords from only a portion of the memory array when smaller data blocks are deinterleaved.

Abstract: A paging receiver receiving message information having one of a plurality of (BCH) code word structures has a programmable error correcting apparatus for correcting bit errors within the message information. The programmable error correcting apparatus may be configured in response to identifying a signalling system and the code word structure corresponding to ther signalling system, or in response to changes in the code word structure within the message. A simplified error correcting apparatus may correct a single bit error within a code word structure. The programamble error correcting apparatus is capable of correcting any two bit error combination within the code word structure and contains sequential and combinational logic circuits. The programmable error correcting apparatus is integrated together with a microprocessor on a monolithic integrated circuit.

Abstract: A baud rate detector determines the baud rates of signals received by a selective call receiver. If the signals have no detectable baud rate or the baud rate of the received signals does not match that of a plurality of known selective call network transmission baud rates, the selective call receiver indicates to its user that it is out of range of the network's transmitters.

Abstract: A method is described for transmitting a plurality of messages within a single transmission having one address to a selective call receiver. An identification packet preceding each message determines the slot in which the message is stored. The packet may also move a message from one slot to another.

Abstract: A paging receiver has a predetermined number of displayable characters, a microcomputer for receiving and processing data messages, a plurality of control switches for operating the computing means, and a memory for storing a plurality of received data messages. The microcomputer selects a data message to display from the memory, arranges the data message into a plurality of screens, computes an individual variable screen timeout value for each screen, and displays each screen on the display in a predetermined order for the screen timeout value computed. The screen timeout value computed on the basis of the message content of the screen, the presence of control characters in the data message, or the generation of input signals from the control switches. The screens can be displayed in a forward direction or a reverse direction. Each direction can either be a fast or a slow rate.

Abstract: A power switching circuit is described for supplying power to a radio pager which must be continuously powered from either a main or backup battery. The main battery voltage is monitored and at appropriate levels as its value falls, selected functions of the pager are eliminated and switch over to the backup battery is made to keep alive essential functions.

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: A communication system and in particular a paging system for transmitting information includes a keyboard, an encoder, a transmitter, a paging, the paging receiver comprising, a decoder, a microprocessor, and a display. Entered information includes a plurality of languages and a corresponding language select signal, each language comprised of a plurality of characters. To increase throughput, the language characters are compressed by the encoder to a common set of characters. The information including the languages is transmitted to a plurality of selectable paging receivers. The paging receiver decodes the information and converts the transmitted received characters to corresponding language symbols according to the transmitted received language select signal. The language symbols are then displayed on the display.

Abstract: A communication receiver is disclosed which can turn itself on or off depending upon the time of day. When the receiver is on, normal battery saving is performed. A time of day clock generates a time signal which is compared to predetermined turn on and turn off times. The turn on and turn off times may be permanently stored in memory or may be manually programmed at the receiver or may be received by the receiver and stored in a reprogrammable memory.

Abstract: A communication system develops an information packet having a packet structure field and at least one message. The message has an address and information associated with the address. A central station accumulates and incorporates the at least one message into the information packet. The central station determines the occurrence of the at least one address and generates identifying data indicating where the address occurs within the information packet. The identifying data is incorporated into the packet structure field and the information packet is transmitted. The information packet is received by at least one selective call receiver capable of operating in a high power mode in order to receive the information packet and a low power mode when receiving is not being performed. The selective call receiver extracts the packet structure field and interprets the identifying data.

Abstract: A digital paging receiver is provided which includes apparatus for determining if an incoming page message is a duplicate of a prior page message already stored in the memory of the receiver. If the current page message is determined to be a duplicate of such prior page, errors which are contained in the prior page are replaced with data from such duplicate page to reduce or eliminate errors in the stored page.