Multiplex communications – Communication over free space – Portable address responsive receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1996-05-03
2001-08-14
Rao, Seema S. (Department: 2661)
Multiplex communications
Communication over free space
Portable address responsive receiver
C370S329000, C455S426100, C455S435100, C455S039000, C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275477
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally, as is indicated, to a campus area pager system. More particularly, the invention relates to a pager system suitable for introducing paging capabilities over new and existing local area networks (LANs).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pager (or paging) systems are known in the art. Subscribers to such systems carry a personal paging unit (hereinafter referred to as a “pager”) which includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver for receiving one-way information. For example, a short alpha-numeric message received by the pager can alert the subscriber to call the office, meet a customer, etc. The pager may be programmed to emit a beeping noise or mechanically vibrate to notify the subscriber in the event a message is received. The subscriber can then read the message by pressing one or more buttons on the pager so as to display the message on an alpha-numeric display.
Paging services are typically provided by a paging service provider which has a number of RF transmitting stations for providing paging coverage over a large geographic area. The transmitting stations are interconnected via a wide area network (WAN) which enables subscribers to receive information input, for example, via a telephone network.
There are, however, a number of drawbacks associated with conventional pager systems such as those discussed above. For example, the paging service providers typically charge subscribers a monthly service charge. Thus, in addition to having to purchase the pagers themselves, subscribers are faced with ongoing monthly service charges which quickly add up to a significant amount of money. The aggregate of such ongoing service charges oftentimes exceed the cost of the pagers themselves. Furthermore, even if the subscribers need the paging service only within a small geographic region, e g., within a single building or set of buildings, the same monthly service charges typically apply.
In addition, such pager systems oftentimes do not provide reliable service. For example, the transmitting stations are typically located some distance away from the pagers to which information is to be transmitted. Interference associated with transmitting signals over long distances and through building infrastructures often causes “dead spots” in which pagers cannot receive information. This can result in important page messages being lost or otherwise not received at least until such time as the pager moves to a location which is not within a dead spot and the messages are resent.
In view of the aforementioned drawbacks associated with conventional pager systems, there is a strong need in the art for a system which eliminates the need to subscribe to a paging service provider and pay monthly service charges. Moreover, there is a strong need in the art for a system which does not rely on a WAN based network. In particular, there is a strong need for a pager system which does not suffer from lost or delayed messages due to frequent “dead spots”.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pager system which enables users to avoid having to pay monthly service charges. The pager system is particularly useful in that it can be coupled easily to an existing local area network (LAN) to provide paging capabilities within a local area (i.e., a campus) such as a building or set of buildings. Thus, businesses, universities, etc., who currently employ a LAN or contemplate installing one can couple the pager system of the present invention to the LAN in order to provide localized paging. Such localized paging is provided without the need to pay monthly service charges to paging service providers. As a result, the present invention affords a business, university, etc., the benefit of avoiding monthly service charges and only incurring primarily the initial cost of purchasing the pager equipment. Hence, the present invention represents a substantial cost savings compared to WAN based paging service providers for those desiring localized paging.
Moreover, since the pager system can be connected to an existing LAN, it is easy to eliminate potential “dead spots” by connecting one or more transmitting stations to the LAN. LANs are typically designed to extend to all areas of a building or campus, for example. Accordingly, transmitting stations can be easily connected at different points on the LAN to provide complete pager access throughout the local area.
According to the preferred embodiment which is discussed more fully below, the pager system of the present invention includes an automated pager server which is directly coupled to the LAN for receiving information from devices on the LAN intended to be transmitted to a pager. The pager server transmits the information to a transmitting station which is also coupled to the LAN and which is designated for transmitting information via a wireless link to the pager. Information to be transmitted to a pager may originate from working terminals (e.g., personal work stations) connected to the LAN as well as other devices. The pager system also includes a telephone interface for connecting the pager server to a local PBX and local telephone network so that information received via incoming telephone calls can be forwarded to pagers within the system. In addition, the telephone interface couples the pager server to a conventional WAN based paging service provider so that information from outside the LAN can be transferred to the pagers within the pager system. Similarly, page requests from within the pager system can be routed to the paging service provider in the event such service is necessary.
According to one particular aspect of the invention, a campus area pager system is provided, including: a local area network (LAN) having a system backbone; at least one base station coupled to the system backbone, each of the at least one base station including a wireless communication section; and at least one paging device for receiving page information from the system backbone via the wireless communication section.
According to another aspect of the invention, a campus area pager system is provided, including: a local area network having a system of the at least one base station including a wireless communication section; backbone via the wireless communication section, each of the plurality of paging devices having a respective pager identification number; and a pager request information including a page message and one of the pager identification numbers, and for transmitting the page information on the system backbone in order to be received by the at least one base station and transmitted via the wireless communication section to the paging device
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a network system is provided, including: a local area network (LAN) having a system backbone and a plurality of devices coupled to the system backbone for performing non-paging related activities via communications on the system backbone; a plurality of base stations coupled to the system backbone, each of the plurality of base stations including a wireless communication section; a plurality of paging devices for receiving communications from the system backbone via the wireless communication section of at least one of the plurality of base stations, each of the plurality of paging devices having a respective pager identification number; and a pager server coupled to the system backbone, the pager server for receiving page request information including a page message and one of the pager identification numbers, and for transmitting the page information on the system backbone in order to be received by the at least one base station and transmitted via the wireless communication section to the paging device corresponding to the one of the pager identification numbers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5166973 (1992-11-01), Hoff
patent: 5202912 (1993-04-01), Breeden et al.
patent: 5325419 (1994-06-01), Connolly et al.
patent: 5398022 (1995-03-01), Lipp
patent: 5406643 (1995-04-01), Burke et al.
patent: 5416827 (1995-05-01),
Sojka Marvin L.
Trompower Michael L.
Amin & Turocy LLP
Rao Seema S.
Telxon Corporation
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