CA2095217C - Selective call receiver having a received message indicator - Google Patents

Selective call receiver having a received message indicator

Info

Publication number
CA2095217C
CA2095217C CA002095217A CA2095217A CA2095217C CA 2095217 C CA2095217 C CA 2095217C CA 002095217 A CA002095217 A CA 002095217A CA 2095217 A CA2095217 A CA 2095217A CA 2095217 C CA2095217 C CA 2095217C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
indicators
sequence
activated
message
indicator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002095217A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2095217A1 (en
Inventor
Randi Faith Weitzen
Mark Timothy Stair
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Motorola Solutions Inc
Original Assignee
Motorola Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motorola Inc filed Critical Motorola Inc
Publication of CA2095217A1 publication Critical patent/CA2095217A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2095217C publication Critical patent/CA2095217C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09GARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G1/00Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with cathode-ray tube indicators; General aspects or details, e.g. selection emphasis on particular characters, dashed line or dotted line generation; Preprocessing of data
    • G09G1/06Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with cathode-ray tube indicators; General aspects or details, e.g. selection emphasis on particular characters, dashed line or dotted line generation; Preprocessing of data using single beam tubes, e.g. three-dimensional or perspective representation, rotation or translation of display pattern, hidden lines, shadows
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08BSIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B5/00Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
    • G08B5/22Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
    • G08B5/222Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems
    • G08B5/223Personal calling arrangements or devices, i.e. paging systems using wireless transmission
    • G08B5/224Paging receivers with visible signalling details
    • G08B5/225Display details
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/64Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations
    • H04M1/65Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party

Abstract

A selective call receiver (100) displays a plurality of message indicators (210) representig or associated with stored mes-sages. A next message indicator (214) is displayed substantially adjacent to a latest positioned message indicator (212a), and the display representation (110) is reallocated in response to the next message indicator exceeding a threshold of message indicators (216) on the display (110).

Description

vo 92/08221 2 09 5 2 1 7 Pcr/uS9l/o6833 SELECTIVE CALL RECEIVER HAVING
A RECEIVED MESSAGE INDICATOR

Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to selective call receivers, and more specifically to a selective call receiver with a received message indicator.

Background of the Invention Typically, a selective call receiver, upon receiving a message, stores the message in memory for review at a later time. However, the number of message storage slots are limite~l- Thus, when the memory storage slots are full, the arrival of new messages may be stored at the expense of 15 deleting older messages. One such method currently used is to delete the oldest message to accommodate a just received message. Unfortunately, if a user wishes to review an older message, it may have been automatically deleted.
Current integrated circuit technologies have increased memory 20 capacity. As a result, selective call receivels can store more messages. This significantly reduces the need for automatically deleting mess~ges.
However, as the number of stored mess~ges increase, the ease of managing the meSs~ges decrease, making it more difflcult for selective call receiver users to retrieve or locate a desired mess~ge. Furthermore, because 25 selective call receiver users tend to randomly read and delete messages, a just recei~ed message is usually placed in the first available memory slot.
In this way, the incoming mecs~ges become randomly placed throughout the available message memory. Unfortunately, this method of storing incoming mess~ges makes it difficult for selective call receiver users to 30 distinguish between old and new messages. That is, selective call receiver users may not be able to easily detel~ e the time priority of the received mess~ges or where the latest received mess~ge was stored.
Thus, what is needed is a method for retrieving stored messages that enables a selective call receiver user to quickly and easily determine the 35 time priority of the messages stored in memory.
.

*.

WO 92/g8Z~1 2 ~ ~ S 2 1 7 PCr/USgl/06833 Sl~mm~ry of the Invention Briefly, according to the invention, a selective call receiver displays a plurality message indicators representing or associated with stored 5 messages. A next message indicator is displayed substantially adjacent to a latest positioned message indicator, and the display representation is re~llocAte~ in response to the next message indicator excee~ling a threshold of message indicators on the display.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a selective call receiver in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2A~ are illustrations of a display of the selective call receiver in 15 accordance to the illvelllion in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps executed by the selective call receiver of FIG. 1 in accordance with the invention.

Description of a Plefeiled Embo~liment Referring to FIG. 1, a selective call radio receiver 100 (e.g., a pager) comprises an antenna 102 that provides an radio frequency (RF) carrier signal that is mixed with a local os~ Ator signal contained within a receiver module 104. The receiver module 104 generates a recovered 25 signal suitable for processing by a decoder 106 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The decoder 106 processes the received signal to a decode an address. A controller 112 compares the decoded address with one or more predetermined addresses contained in a memory 108. When the addresses are substantially sintilA~ the user is alerted that a signal has 30 been received either by an audio alert (e.g., a speaker or transducer) 114 ora tactile alert (e.g., a vibrator) 116. The received signal may also include optional mess~e data directed to some selective call receivers. Also, if the selective call receiver includes an optional voice output 118, recovered audio components of the received RF. signal may be presented. For a 35 message selective call receiver, the recovered nle.csAge is stored in a memory 108 for subsequent presentation. The output display 130 will automatically, or when manually selected by controls 122,124,126, and 128 .

~0 92/08221 2095~17 PC~r/US91/06833 present the message, such as by displaying the mesc~ge on a display screen 110.
The output display 130 further in~ lPc a pointer or indicator 134 that may be scrolled (moved) in either a left or right direction. Por example, 5 depressing key 128 will move the poinler 134 to the right of a current ~oinLer position to an ap~L~riate mess~ge number identified by a label 136. The label 136 in~ dPs a plurality of numbers associated with difreLen~
pointer positions. The number of positions are not limited to those shown on the label 136, but will depend substantially on the size of the 10 mpmnry 108. Alternately, depressing key 122 will move the pointer 134 to the left of the ~:urlellt pointer position. It can be appreciated that the method and number of key strokes for moving the pointer 134 is not ite~ to the above ~esrription. ~iti~nally, deplessing key 124 will present the co~responding mess~ge iden~fie~l by the pointer 134 on the 15 display screen 110, and depressing key 126 will delete the mess~ge from memc)ry and the message in~ic~tor (shown in FIG. 2) from the display screen 110.
FIGs. 2A-C show a more ~et~ile~ illustration of the ~referred display screen 110. According to the invenLion, when the selective call receiver 20 receives a mess~ge, the message is stored in memory 108 (see FIG. 1).
Subsequently or simlllt~neously, a mPss~ge indica'Qor 212 is positioned on the display screen 110. As shown in FIG. 2A, an area on the display screen is prereiably provided for the display of a plurality of message indicators 210. The remairung area 220 is used to display a message associated with 25 one of the plurality of message indicators 210. It can be ap~reciated that the area reserved for the plurality of meSs~ge in-lir~tors may be assigned to any portion of the display screen 110, for example, the top or the bottom portions of the display screen 110. The black kiangular indicators 112 represent or denote messages and a pointer 134 donates which mess~ge 30 c~lenlly stored in memory may be processed (i.e., read, printed, or deleted). The white (or unshaded) message indicator 214 denotes the ~r~r~ d position of a next message indicator in response to a next received and stored message. Corresponding to a received and stored message, a message indicator is positioned to the right of and adjacent to 35 the latest positioned mPsc~ge in~lir~tor 212a. In this way, the latest received n~eSs~ge may be ~CcPsse~l by positioning the pointer 134 on the rightmost mess~ge indicator. Thus, moving the pointer 134 leftward will .
2 0 9 5 2 1 7 Pcr/US9l/06833 access earlier received messages (i.e., lower time priorities). It can be appreciated that the highest time priority mescAge may be alternatively placed to the left of the plurality of me~sAge indicators instead of the right.
Those of ordinary skill will also appreciate that any al,p~o~iiate 5 arrangement may be used to identify the priority of the stored messages.
Referring to FIG. 2B, the display screen 110 is shown filled with a plurality of meSsA~e indicators. The display screen 110 also shows a few missing nlessA~e indicators 218. According to the il-venlion, the selective call receiver user will be able to readily locate the me~sA~e indicator 10 associated with latest received mess~ge since it is placed adjacent and to the right of the latest positioned meSsAge indicator.
As previously ~iccl1~se~l, the selective call receiver user after selecting and reading a mecsAge, may delete a me.csAge of his choice by activating the ap~ropriate sequences of control buttons. In this way, the vacant message 15 indicator positions 218 are created. According to the invention, the subsequent message indicators will only be positioned to the right of the latest positioned mess~Age in~ic~Ator resulting in the deleted mes~ge indicators 128 remaining on the display 110. Thus, the invention avoids the confusion of the prior art practice of randomly placing new message 20 indicators in the gap 218.
The selective call receiver will coll~-ue receiving and storing messages and positioning message in~lic~tQrs substantially adjacent to the latest positioned meSs~Age inflir~Ator. However, when a received and stored messAge results in a messAge in~licAtor being positioned at a threshold 25 position 216, the display 110 can no longer present message indicators to the right and AdjAceTIt to the threshold positioned m~ssAge ir~ Ator 216.
Those skilled in the arts will ap~reciate that the threshold may also coLres~ond to a pre-determined number of messAge indicators Unfortunately, there is no more available indicator positions. According 30 to the invention, the selective call receiver will reallocate the message indicator portion of the display 110 upon receipt of the next message. The reallocation substantially consists of moving all their mess~ge indicators to their left filling in all vacant positions 218 created by previously deleted messAges. This reallocation maintains the messAge indicator's time 35 priority position with respect to all other remaining message indicators.
In this way, the selective call receiver will cause all message indicators to be positioned in the known sequence. As messages are subsequently read V092/08221 2095217 Pcr/US9l/o6833 _ 5 and deleted, vacant message indicator positions are ignored until the threshold position is again reached. Upon reaching the threshold position, the selective call receiver will again reallocate the message display maintaining the time priority of the message indicators with 5 respect to each other.
Referring FIG. 2C, the display 110 is shown after the reallocation, which results in an orderly arrange~ent of message indicators. For example, the me.csage indicator 212b, by its position, was received later than all message in~lic~tors to its left. Simil~rly, mes~ge indicator 212c 10 arrived after me.cc~ge indicator 212b and mP~c~e indicator 212d co~res~onds to the latest received mess~ge (as shown). In this way, the selective call receiver reallocates the positions of the message indicators corlesponding to a predetermined threshold. This reallocation maintains the message indicators received time priority with respect to each other, 15 while f;lling in vacant position created by deleted meSs~ges.
According to the invention, subsequent message indicators corres~onding to subsequent received mess~ges are prt:vell~ed from being arbitrarily or randomly positioned in the first available message indicator slot. The technique of this invention results in a prioritized message 20 indicator dicplay that remains even if a user creates a vacant message ir~lic~tor position by deleting a stored me.cs~ge. In this fashion, the selective call receiver does not have to continuously monitor the message indicators to maintain existing priority scheme. Fu~lhe~ ore, the reallocation causes the vacant message positions to be cleared to facilitate 25 further positioning of nless~ge indicators.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the steps executed by the selective call receiver in accordance with the invention. In step 302, the received message is stored. The selective call receiver checks if the threshold position is already occupied by a message indicator, step 304. If 30 unoccupied, a message indicator is placed substantially adjacent to the latest positioned message indicator, and more specifically the message is placed to the right of the latest existing message indicator, step 306. The process ends at step 308. However, if the the threshold position is occupied, the display of mess~ge indicators are reAlloc~te~. That is, the 35 filling in of all deleted message positions while maintaining the respective message indicator priorities, step 310. In this way, the reallocation causes vacant message positions to be replaced with valid message indicators.

Wo 92/08221 2 ~ 9 5 2 1 7 Pcr/US9l/06833 This maintains the tiIne prioriti7Ation of message indicators without forcing the selective call receiver to continuously monitor the display of indicators.
In s lmmAry, a selective call receiver displays a plurality message 5 indicators representing or associated with stored messages. The display positions a next messAge indicator substantially adjacent to a latest positioned message in~iCAtor~ and reAllorAtes the display ~resenlalion in response to the next mess~AEe in~licator exceeding a threshold of message in~irators on the display. In this way, the selective call receiver will cause 10 all mess~Age indicators to be positioned in a known time priorih7e-1 sequence. As messa~es are read and lelete~l, the vacant messAge indicator positions are ignored until a threshold position is reached. Upon reaching the threshold position, the selective call receiver reallocates the message display mainlaining the time priority of the message indicators with 15 respect to each other. In this way, the reAllorAtion causes vacant message positions to be replaced with valid message indicators. This furthers the prioritization of message i~-lirators without forcing the selective call receiver to continuously monitor the display of indicators.

Claims (9)

1. A selective call receiver, comprising:
means for receiving messages;
memory means for storing the received messages;
displaying means for displaying the stored messages, and a predetermined number of indicators representative of a corresponding predetermined number of stored messages;
means for activating the indicators in a predetermined sequence of activated indicators on said displaying means when the received messages are stored;
means for deleting any one of the stored messages from said memory means wherein said activating means, being responsive to said deleting means, deactivates the indicator associated with the stored message being deleted resulting in a gap being displayed in the sequence of activated indicators at the position occupied by the deactivated indicator; and means for repositioning the sequence of activated indicators being displayed to eliminate the gap in the sequence of activated indicators while maintaining the positional relationship of the activated indicators being displayed.
2. The selective call receiver according to claim 1 further comprising means for initiating the repositioning means in response to a message indicator being activated in a predetermined indicator position in the sequence of activated indicators.
3. The selective call receiver according to claim 1 further comprising means for initiating the repositioning means in response to a threshold number of indicators being displayed in the sequence of activated indicators.
4. The selective call receiver according to claim 1 wherein the display means comprises an area for displaying the indicators and a remaining area for displaying the stored messages.
5. The selective call receiver according to claim 1 wherein the display means further includes an inhibiting means for inhibiting the indicator from being displayed in the gap until the sequence of activated indicators is repositioned for eliminating the gap being displayed therein.
6. A method for maintaining a priority of a plurality of stored messages, comprising the steps of:
(a) activating indicators on a display in a predetermined sequence of activated indicators representing an order in which the plurality of stored messages were received;
(b) displaying the stored messages, and a predetermined number of indicators representative of a predetermined number of stored messages;
(c) deleting any one of the stored message wherein said step of activating further including the step of deactivating, in response to said step of deleting, for deactivating the indicator associated with the stored message being deleted sequence of activated indicators at the position occupied by the deactivated indicator; and (d) repositioning the sequence of activated indicators being displayed to eliminate the gap in the sequence of activated indicators while maintaining the priority relationship of the activated indicators being displayed.
7. The method for maintaining the priority of access to the stored messages according to claim 6 wherein subsequent indicators, in response to messages being subsequently received, are activated and displayed in a position substantially adjacent to a most recently activated indicator within the sequence of activated indicators.
8. The method for maintaining the priority of access to the stored messages according to claim 6 wherein an at least one previously deactivated indicator creates an at least one vacant position within the sequence of activated indicators, and said step of repositioning repositions the sequence of activated indicators being displayed to fill the vacant positions created therein by the previously deactivated indicators to maintain a time priority position of the activated indicators being displayed within the sequence.
9. The method for maintaining the priority of access to the stored messages according to claim 6 wherein the step of activating further indudes the step of inhibiting for inhibiting the indicator from being displayed in the gap until the sequence of activated indicators is repositioned for eliminating the gap being displayed therein.
CA002095217A 1990-11-05 1991-09-23 Selective call receiver having a received message indicator Expired - Fee Related CA2095217C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US60866890A 1990-11-05 1990-11-05
US07/608,668 1990-11-05

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2095217A1 CA2095217A1 (en) 1992-05-06
CA2095217C true CA2095217C (en) 1996-06-11

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002095217A Expired - Fee Related CA2095217C (en) 1990-11-05 1991-09-23 Selective call receiver having a received message indicator

Country Status (9)

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US (1) US5278546A (en)
EP (1) EP0556215B1 (en)
KR (1) KR960013419B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE150890T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2095217C (en)
DE (1) DE69125391T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2099754T3 (en)
HK (1) HK1007212A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1992008221A1 (en)

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JPH1070748A (en) * 1996-08-27 1998-03-10 Nec Shizuoka Ltd Selective radio call receiver
JP2978815B2 (en) * 1997-03-25 1999-11-15 静岡日本電気株式会社 Radio selective call receiver
US6157814A (en) * 1998-11-12 2000-12-05 Motorola, Inc. Wireless subscriber unit and method for presenting advertisements as a message indicator
US6868497B1 (en) * 1999-03-10 2005-03-15 Digimarc Corporation Method and apparatus for automatic ID management
US7509148B1 (en) * 2000-02-15 2009-03-24 Motorola, Inc. Message alert system and method of providing message notification
US6987443B2 (en) * 2001-08-27 2006-01-17 Qwest Communications International Inc. Unified paging
JP4537147B2 (en) * 2004-08-06 2010-09-01 富士通株式会社 Terminal device, message display method, and message display program

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69125391T2 (en) 1997-10-09
EP0556215A1 (en) 1993-08-25
ES2099754T3 (en) 1997-06-01
EP0556215A4 (en) 1995-05-10
HK1007212A1 (en) 1999-04-01
WO1992008221A1 (en) 1992-05-14
DE69125391D1 (en) 1997-04-30
US5278546A (en) 1994-01-11
CA2095217A1 (en) 1992-05-06
KR930702741A (en) 1993-09-09
EP0556215B1 (en) 1997-03-26
ATE150890T1 (en) 1997-04-15
KR960013419B1 (en) 1996-10-05

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