Radio pager

Abstract: A radio pager capable of receiving a group call as distinguished from a personal call. A group call address number does not have to be stored in the radio pager beforehand. Hence, it is not necessary to use the same number of group call address numbers as the number of groups. This prevents the number of address numbers to be assigned to individual radio pagers and, therefore, the number of subscribers to be registered from being reduced. In addition, a group of radio pagers to be called at the same time can be rearranged with ease.

Description: The present invention relates to a radio pager and, more particularly, to a radio pager capable of receiving a group call as distinguished from a personal call. It is a common practice with a radio pager having the above capability to store a group call address number in addition to an address number particular to the pager beforehand. Specifically, a group call is such that a group of radio pagers each having a particular address number are called by a common group call address number at the same time. The conventional group call uses a group call address number stored beforehand, as stated above. This brings about a drawback that the same number of group call address numbers as the number of groups to be called are required, reducing the number of address numbers which can be allocated to individual pagers, i.e., the number of subscribers to be registered. Moreover, to rearrange the group to be called at the same time, it is necessary to rewrite a ROM (Read Only Memory) built in each pager, resulting in a troublesome procedure. EP-A-0 360 216 discloses a selective paging system with a paging receiver having a plurality of addresses. One of the addresses is reported as an individual call and the other as a group call. It is an object of the present invention to provide a radio pager which does not reduce the number of subscribers to be registered and facilitates the rearrangement of the group to be called at the same time. This object is achieved with the features of the claim. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a radio pager embodying the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a format of a signal to be sent to the radio pager shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a flowchart demonstrating a specific operation of the embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a radio pager embodying the present invention is shown and generally labeled R. In the figure, solid lines and phantom lines indicate signal lines and control lines, respectively. As shown, the radio pager has an antenna (no numeral) through which a carrier wave modulated by a paging signal and sent from a transmitter S comes in. The paging signal from the antenna is applied to and demodulated by an RF (Radio Frequency) or radio section 1. A decoder 2 decodes the demodulated signal fed thereto from the RF section 1. A first detector 3 detects an address number out of the decoded paging signal and determines whether or not it is identical with an address number assigned to the pager R and stored in a ROM 4. When the two address numbers are identical as determined by the first detector 3, a second detector 6 detects a message meant for the pager R and headed by the address number. The reference numeral 5 designates a RAM (Random Access Memory). A third detector 7 follows the second detector 6 to determine whether or not the received call is a group call. A CPU 8 causes a display 9 to show the message meant for the pager R and detected by the second detector 6. Further, when the third detector 7 detects a group call, the CPU 8 detects a group call address number represented by the following group call address number data by comparison and then receives a group call message which follows the group call address number. Specifically, the second detector 6 checks the address number written to the RAM 5. When, the received call is a group call as determined by the third detector 7, the CPU 8 writes the group call address number in the RAM 5 and then causes the second detector 6 to receive a group call message which follows the group call address number. A specific operation of the radio pager shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 2, regarding a group call, the transmitter S sends an address number assigned to a given radio pager belonging to a group to be called simultaneously, then an indication indicative of a group call, and then group call address number data. Subsequently,the transmitter S sends an address number particular to another radio pager belonging to the same group. Finally, the transmitting station S sends a message meant for the whole group by use of the group call address number sent beforehand as an address. As shown in FIG. 3, as a power switch, not shown, provided on the pager R is turned on, the CPU 8 reads the address number out of the ROM 4 and writes it in the RAM 5. As a paging signal is demodulated by the RF section 1 and then decoded by the decoder 2, the first detector 3 compares the decoded signal and the address number stored in the ROM 4. If they compare equal, the second detector 6 determines whether or not the received signal and the address number written to the RAM 5 are identical. In this case, the address number of the pager R has been written to the RAM 5 as rewritable number data. If the received signal and the address number stored in the RAM 5 are identical as determined by the second detector 6, the third detector 7 determines whether or not the received call is a group call. If the received call is a group call, the CPU 8 writes in the RAM 5 the group call address number indicated by the group address number data which follows the group call indication. Then, the CPU 8 again brings the second detector 6 into a waiting state. Subsequently, the CPU 8 receives a message and causes the display 9 to display the message. Finally, the CPU 8 writes the address number stored in the ROM 4 in the RAM 5 and then restores the first detector 3 to a waiting sate. In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a radio pager which makes it needless to store a group call address number therein beforehand. Therefore, it is not necessary to use the same number of group call address numbers as the number of groups. This prevents the number of address numbers to be assigned to individual radio pagers and, therefore, the number of subscribers to be registered from being reduced. In addition, a group of radio pagers to be called at the same time can be rearranged with ease. Various modifications will become possible for those skilled in the art after receiving the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims: A radio pager capable of receiving a group call, comprising: a radio frequency section (1) for receiving and demodulating a paging signal; a decoder (2) for decoding the paging signal demodulated by said radio frequency section (1); a first detector (3) for determining whether or not the paging signal decoded by said decoder is identical with an address number assigned to said radio pager; a second detector (6) for detecting, when said paging signal and said address number coincide as determined by said first detector (3), a message meant for said radio pager (R) and indicated by the address number assigned to said radio pager (R); a third detector (7) for determining, when said second detector (6) detects the message meant for said radio pager, whether or not said message is a group call; and a controller (8) for detecting, when the message is a group call, a group call address number indicated by group call address number data received thereafter, and receiving a group call message following said group call address number, characterized in that said second detector (6) compares the address number with an address number stored in a rewritable memory (5), said controller (8) writing, when said third detector (7) detects a group call, the group call address number in said rewritable memory (5) and then causing said second detector (6) to the group call message.

Inventors: MATSUMOTO MARIKO, MATSUMOTO, MARIKO
Applicants: NIPPON ELECTRIC CO, NEC CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H04B5
IPC codes: H04W88