Abstract: A paging system with a remote pager which includes a transmitter with a plurality of individually selectable encoded acknowledge signals. The system includes apparatus at the paging terminal for composing messages with a primary message and a plurality of alternate responses, each response corresponding to one of the acknowledge signals. Upon reception of the page, the pager is operated by selecting the acknowledge signal corresponding with the desired response to the primary message. Transmission of the selected acknowledge signal acknowledges reception of the page and, simultaneously, answers the primary message.

Abstract: A global communications system is described having terrestrial transmitters for transmitting coded message signals in each of a plurality of geographic areas. The global communication system further includes at least one satellite transmitter for transmitting the coded messages signals in each of a plurality of global geographic areas. The coded message signals transmissions include channel identification codewords identifying the terrestrial channels and the satellite channel. The terretrial channel is selected for operation when the channel identification codeword received matches a first predetermined channel identification codeword. The satellite channel is selected for operation when the channel identification codeword does not match the first predetermined channel identification codeword. When the satellite channel is selected the terrestrial channel is periodically reselected to enable decoding the channel identification codeword received on the terrestrial channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining if a received binary word corresponds to the true or complement version of a stored binary word includes means for serially multiplexing the bits of each binary word to the inputs of an exclusive OR gate. The exclusive-OR gate generates a logical high signal each time a mismatch occurs. These signals are applied directly to an error counter and, after inversion, to a match counter. The contents of the error counter and match counter are compared to a stored threshold number. A first signal is generated if the contents of the error counter exceeds the threshold. A second signal is generated if the contents of the match counter exceeds the threshold. Upon the occurrence of both signals, the serial comparison process is terminated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a satellite signalling system, such as a satellite paging system, having signal coverage over a very wide area. The satellite signalling system comprises a satellite to which is coupled an antenna for providing a signal beam having a variable beam area. The satellite can control the position of the antenna such that the signal beam can be directed in a predetermined sequence to a plurality of locations on earth. The antenna is arranged to vary the signal beam's area in dependence on the location to which the signal beam is directed. The signal beam comprises a data signal having a data rate which can be varied by the antenna in dependence on the beam area.

Abstract: A battery powered receiver including a adaptive signal decoder is disclosed which is capable of processing detected encoded signals in accordance with a plurality of decoding schemes. The decoder has an equivalent microcomputer implementation. Energy conservation means operating independently of the detected signals acts to conserve the energy of the battery.

Abstract: A paging receiver capable of bit synchronizing to one of two data rates. The receiver has a digital phase locked loop integrated onto a single integrated circuit clocked by a single frequency crystal. The paging receiver receives and synchronizes to a POCSAG signal which may be transmitted at either 512 bits per second or 1200 bits per second. The digital phase locked loop bit synchronizes to either data rate using a single crystal frequency of 76.8 kHz. The data rate is selected by a bit in the code paging receiver's code plug. The digital phase locked loop is constructed to have a substantially constant frequency to bandwidth ratio at both data rates.

Abstract: A receiver (200) includes an automatic frequency controller that determines the frequency of a receiver signal, and a calculates a frequency error from the received signal. The frequency error is used to calculate a correction factor (316) that is used to adjust the frequency of an oscillator (308) in response to the determined error.

Abstract: A paging receiver has a synthesizer for governing the receive frequency. The paging receiving further has characteristics which are varied in response to the receive frequency. These characteristics include varying the bandwidth of a loop filter within a phase lock loop within the synthesizer as well as varying the time in which a detector circuit used to extract a DC level from a recovered audio signal is disabled. Furthermore, the bandwidth of the loop filter is varied in response to switching from a first receive frequency to a second receive frequency in order to provide for either a uniform frequency lock time or for a rapid frequency lock time. Furthermore, the time in which the detector circuit is disabled is correspondingly changed.

Abstract: A battery saver type paging receiver includes an improved peak and valley amplitude detection type data limiter section with mode control operation thereof, digital word storage of acquired peak and valley amplitude values, and self tuning capabilities. More specifically, the data limiter section includes a controller for controlling the peak and valley detection circuits to acquire respective peak and valley amplitude values in digital word form in a first operational mode and to hold the peak and valley amplitude digital words in corresponding storage registers in a second operational mode. The controller may transfer the data limiter section into a third operational mode during which the peak and valley digital words may be altered a predetermined count to effect a self-tuning thereof. In one embodiment, the third mode of operation is effected during the transfer between the second and first modes of operation.

Abstract: A satellite paging system is described for providing geogrpahic protocol conversion for data packet delivery to communication receivers located in a plurality of geographic areas. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting data packets formatted in a first predetermined data format to the communication satellite. The satellite includes a receiver for receiving the data packets and a programmable encoder coupled to the receiver for encoding the received data packets into encoded data packets in a second predetermined data format corresponding to the signaling requirements of each geographic delivery area. A satellite transmitter coupled to the programmable encoder then transmits the encoded data packets in the second predetermined data format to a portable communication receiver, operable in the second predetermined data format in the geographic delivery area.

Abstract: A receiver receives a transmitted signal having a periodic predetermined signal, a method and apparatus detects a first predetermined signal. Power may be conserved during a portion of a subsequent predetermined signal. The subsequent predetermined signal is divided into at least a first and second portion. If the first portion is detected, the subsequent predetermined signal is considered detected and power is conserved for the second portion. If the first portion is not detected, the receiver remains active for the second portion in order to detect the subsequent predetermined signal.

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 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 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 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 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 low power and low voltage frequency synthesizer includes a memory containing information to provide divisor information to the variable divider of a phase locked loop and information to select predetermined values of capacitance to connect to the frequency determining resonant network of the VCO to provide a coarse tuning. This tuning is then further modified by the normal operation of the phase locked loop.

Abstract: A microcomputer having predetermined clock pulse frequency requirements receives pulses from a multiplying type frequency synthesizer which utilizes a reference frequency less than the largest of the predetermined requirements. The synthesizer is responsive to program instructions to generate clock pulse frequencies sufficient to satisfy the requirement for immediate execution of programmed tasks. As the requirements change, the synthesizer responds to provide only the frequency required. Thus, the power dissipated by the microcomputer system is minimized.