WO1998028928A1

WO1998028928A1 - Pager with defined custom alphanumeric messages

Info

Publication number: WO1998028928A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/018714
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael C. Park
Original assignee: Seiko Communications Systems, Inc.
Priority date: 1996-12-24
Filing date: 1997-10-18
Publication date: 1998-07-02
Also published as: AU4759097A

Abstract

A pager (12) with defined custom alphanumeric messages receives information-rich alphanumeric messages initiated by a caller (14) using a conventional telephone keypad (16). The caller (14) need not have any preknowledge or available alphanumeric message selections and need not perform complex telephone keypad operations to cause transmission of an alphanumeric message to a particular paging device (12). Each paging device user composes a set of custom alphanumeric messages, and callers (14) hear the custom alphanumeric messages as part of a voice prompt menu system. When a caller selects one of the custom alphanumeric messages the paging system (10) causes display of the corresponding alphanumeric text on a particular paging device (12). Information content thereby goes beyond numeric content but callers initiate paging messages by use of conventional telephone (16).

Description

PAGER WITH DEFINED CUSTOM ALPHANUMERIC MESSAGES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to portable personal electronic devices, and particularly to paging devices with alphanumeric paging message presentation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A paging device is a personal information device receiving by radio signal information from a paging system. Early paging devices simply sounded an alarm to indicate to the user need to call a prearranged telephone number, e.g., the office telephone number, to collect information. Under such early systems, a caller, i.e., person initiating the page, calls the user's office telephone number and leaves with a receptionist a telephone number to be called. The receptionist then triggers activation of the paging device and the user calls the receptionist to get the original caller's telephone number. Early paging devices could not display any information content nor could the person initiating the page deliver directly any information to the pager user.

Callers and paging device users needed a more direct method for delivering information to the paging device user. In particular, caller had no way to directly deliver information to the paging device user from a conventional telephone.

As pagers evolved, numeric information could be entered by a caller using a conventional telephone. Under such systems, the caller dials the paging device telephone number, interacts with the paging system, and enters a telephone number to be called. The paging system then transmits paging information by radio signal to that particular paging device. The user of the paging device receives the numeric information on a display of the paging device and responds to the page, i.e., calls the person initiating the page. The ability of a caller to deliver numeric information to a paging device user directly from a conventional telephone is now a fundamental aspect of paging device and paging system operation.

Thus, vast majority of callers, i.e., persons initiating a page message, initiate a page by operation of a conventional telephone. When the caller enters only numeric messages, the conventional telephone keypad provides an acceptable, if not perfect, mechanism for entering numeric information, especially telephone numbers.

Paging systems have evolved, however, beyond numeric messages. Alphanumeric paging messages, i.e., messages containing not only numeric information but also text information, are now available and growing in popularity. The traditional approach to composition of alphanumeric messages requires that the caller compose a sequence of numeric and text characters for transmission to and display at the paging device. Paging systems offer a variety of mechanisms allowing a caller to enter numeric and textual information for display at the paging device. For example, paging systems can interact with personal computers or terminals to receive alphanumeric information. Unfortunately, computer terminals and personal computers are large and expensive, and not always connected to a telephone system. Also, because the vast majority of persons initiating page messages do so by way of a conventional telephone keypad, alphanumeric paging messages are as a practical matter difficult to compose and unavailable for most callers. The present invention concerns the process of initiating paging messages including text by use of a conventional telephone. The usefulness of alphanumeric paging devices, therefore, is limited by the ability of callers to easily produce an alphanumeric message. The use of computer terminals or use of an intermediate paging system operator are alternatives, but tend to be cost prohibitive. Various input schemes exist where certain telephone keypad key operations create various text characters, i.e., letters, of the alphabet. These schemes, however, tend to be complex and tedious for most callers. For example, to enter the letter "a" one presses the "2" key once. To enter the letter "b" one presses the "2" key twice. Thus, while a conventional telephone keypad can be used to compose alphanumeric paging messages, this limited data entry mechanism is simply unacceptable to most callers. Callers are simply unwilling to devote such effort when composing an alphanumeric paging message. Voice recognition and conversion to text is theoretically a potential mechanism for creating alphanumeric messages from a standard telephone, but such technology is presently far too unreliable across all potential callers.

Some paging systems offer predefined "code" messages whereby the caller and the paging device user prearrange or define a meaning for a given code message. For example, the caller initiates a "code one" message to be delivered to the paging device user, and the paging device user interprets the "code one" message according to prearrangement. Unfortunately, this requires that the callers and paging device users agree in advance on the code interpretations. For example, "code zero" sent by a babysitter to a parent means, "all kids have gone to sleep." While this is not true alphanumeric free-form message composition by the caller, it does allow useful information tailored to common situations and particular users. Unless the caller and user can prearrange meanings for the coded messages and remember or separately document the meaning for the coded messages, however, such coded messages have limited usefulness. Further, such coded messages have no usefulness whatsoever for callers unaware of the prearranged meaning for various coded messages.

Some paging systems offer predefined alphanumeric messages available to callers for common or generic purposes. For example, a caller can select a "call home" or a "call office" message to be delivered to and displayed upon a particular paging device. Thus, while this provides a mechanism for delivering an alphanumeric message to a paging device by operation of a conventional telephone, the information content is limited and generic without any adaptation to the needs of a particular paging device user. In other words, the predefined alphanumeric messages are necessarily common to all paging device users and have limited use for any purpose specific to a particular paging device user.

Many callers desire, therefore, to deliver information-rich, i.e., alphanumeric, paging messages by use of a conventional telephone keypad without undue effort or prearranged coded or predefined generic messages. The subject matter of the present invention provides such a mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A paging system under the present invention transmits alphanumeric paging information to selected paging devices in response to callers interacting with the system by way of voice prompt menus and telephone keypads. The paging system stores a custom message options set associated with a given paging device. The custom message options set represents at least one alphanumeric paging message composed by the user of the given paging device. A caller interacts with the system and indicates need to send a paging message to a given paging device. Voice prompt menu presentation includes presentation of the custom message option set associated with that given paging device. The caller selects one of the custom message options as paging information to be transmitted to the given paging device the paging device then displays the paging information, including alphanumeric information, as selected by the caller.

The caller need not perform complex manipulation of the telephone keypad to initiate transmission of an information-rich alphanumeric paging message. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the voice prompt menu selections made available to the caller may be presented in the paging device user's own voice.

A paging system under the present invention includes a population of paging devices receiving paging information by way of radio signal and displaying the paging information when received. The paging information received by and displayed at the paging devices includes alphanumeric information. A clearinghouse interacts with callers by way of conventional telephones to send paging messages for transmission by radio signal to selected members of the population of paging devices. The clearinghouse stores a custom message option set associated with each member of the population of paging devices. Each custom message option represents paging information to be transmitted to the associated paging device upon selection by the caller. Each option includes at least one alphanumeric message composed by the user of the associated paging device. The clearinghouse presents the options for selection by the caller and upon selection by the caller a corresponding alphanumeric message appears at the associated paging device. An alphanumeric paging system clearinghouse under the present invention stores for each paging device user a custom message options set presented to a caller when selecting a message for transmission. The custom message options include alphanumeric messages composed by the user associated with a particular paging device. The caller thereby selects custom alphanumeric messages for transmission by way of voice prompt menu without complex manipulation of the conventional telephone keypad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: a user-selected threshold for ambient sound conditions.

FIG. 1 illustrates a paging system according to the present invention allowing callers to initiate alphanumeric paging messages by use of a conventional telephone.

FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram internal components of the paging devices operating under the paging system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a voice prompt menu structure presented to a caller of the paging system of FIG. 1 and allowing the caller to conveniently initiate alphanumeric paging message transmission by use of a conventional telephone keypad.

FIG. 4 illustrates a data structure for custom message options used in the paging system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a paging system 10 including a population of paging devices 12, only one such paging device 12 being illustrated in FIG. 1. Paging system 10 receives paging information from callers 14 interacting, by way of conventional telephones 16 and a public switch telephone network (PSTN) 18, with a clearinghouse 20. Clearinghouse 20 collects paging information from a variety of sources, e.g., callers 14, and submits such paging information to radio stations 22, only one such radio station 22 being shown in FIG. 1, for transmission as radio signal 24. Paging devices 12, in the illustrated embodiment, take the form of a wristwatch and the wristband constitutes an antenna 30. Each paging device 12 includes an LCD display 26 for presentation of paging messages and includes buttons 28, individually 28a-28d, for user manipulation of the paging device 12.

Clearing house 20 includes a central control 50 orchestrating operation of clearinghouse 20. A voice response unit (VRU) 52 interacts with caller 14 by way of PSTN 18 and conventional telephone 16. As may be appreciated, voice response unit 52 provides to caller 14 a variety of menu choices by voice presentation and caller 14 responds by activation of keypad 16a to select various menu prompts. As will be discussed more fully hereafter, following interaction between voice response unit 52 and caller 14, voice response unit 52 submits a new paging message 54 to central control 50. For each new paging message 54 generated by voice response unit 52, central control 50 integrates the information into the paging system 10 transmission protocol and provides such transmission to the population of paging devices 12. Accordingly, it will be understood that new paging messages 54 can correspond to a variety of content and format, including alphanumeric content made available to a paging device 12 user by presentation on display 26.

Clearinghouse 20 also includes a set of user profiles 56. Each user of a paging device 12 has an associated user ID, e.g., the telephone number for that particular paging device 12. Any information relevant to a particular user is stored in that user's profile within user profiles 56. Voice response unit 52 applies user ID 58 to user profiles 56 and obtains a variety of user-specific information supporting interaction between voice response unit 52 and caller 14. Among such user specific data, and as relevant to the present invention, voice response unit 52 obtains a custom message options set 60 from user profiles 56 by applying a particular user ID 58 to user profiles 56. As described more fully hereafter, voice response unit 52 uses a given custom message options set 60, to construct and present to caller 14 a series of voice prompt menu choices. Thus, in addition to standard voice prompt menu choices available for presentation to caller 14, voice response unit 52 also presents menu options pertaining to a specific paging device 12 user.

FIG. 2 illustrates in block diagram the paging device 12 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, a processor element 70 controls operation of paging device 12. Processor element 70 drives LCD display 26 for presentation of various information, e.g., alphanumeric paging information. A radio receiver 72 couples to antenna 30 and receives radio signal 24. Processor element 70 interacts with radio receiver 72 to receive and store paging information obtained from radio signal 24. Processor element 70 monitors buttons 28 to detect and decode user manipulation of paging device 12. Processor element 70 selectively activates a sound transducer 74, i.e., alarm, to indicate receipt of paging information. Finally, processor element 70 interacts with a memory 76 supporting operation of paging device 12. Thus, it will be understood that paging system 10 transmits a variety of information, including alphanumeric information, to selected paging devices 12 for presentation to a particular paging device 12 user. The present invention may be implemented across a variety of paging system transmission protocols and paging system methods of operation. The present invention may be implemented in an alphanumeric paging system where paging message initiation is available via a conventional telephone and voice prompt menu operation.

FIG. 3 illustrates a voice prompt menu provided by voice response unit 52 when interacting with a give caller 14. In FIG. 3, a caller 14 first hears a greeting menu 100. In menu 100, voice response unit 52 presents an initial greeting 102, e.g., "enter your message selection...press", followed by a series of menu options 104. Each menu option 104 is associated with a key of keypad 16a whereby caller 14 selects one of options 104 by activating the corresponding key on keypad 16a. For example, several generic text messages may be invoked by caller 14 such as "call office", "call home", and "come home" by activating the "1", "2", and "5" keys of keypad 16a. In response, unit 52 provides to central control 50 the new paging message 54 as the preselected text for the particular generic message selected by caller 14. Central control 50 in turn transmits the preselected or generic message to the particular paging device 12 and the preselected or generic message appears on display 26 of that paging device 12.

Other menu options 104 require further interaction with caller 14. For example, by pressing the "8" on keypad 16a, caller 14 leaves voice mail. Voice response unit 52 presents menu 106 to caller 14. Menu 106 instructs caller 14 to leave a voice message and then press the "#" key on keypad 16a. When caller 14 leaves voice mail, voice response unit 52 provides new paging message 54 to central control 50 as the text string "voice mail" or as a code associated with such text string. As may be appreciated, the actual voice message left by caller 14 is also stored by clearinghouse 20 whereby the paging device 12 user, upon receiving the "voice mail" paging message, calls paging system 10 to retrieve the actual voice message left by caller 14. If caller 14 wishes to send a numeric message, e.g., a telephone number, caller 14 presses the "4" key on keypad 16a and voice response unit 52 presents menu 108 to caller 14. Menu 108 instructs caller 14 to enter the telephone number on keypad 16a followed by the "#" key. When caller 14 leaves a telephone number, voice response unit 52 provides new paging message 54 to central control 50 as the telephone number sequence entered by caller 14.

When caller 14 selects the custom messages option from menu 100, i.e., presses the "3" key on keypad 16a, voice response unit presents menu 110 to caller 14. Menu 110 presents an initial greeting 112, e.g., "enter your custom message selection...press", followed by a series of menu options 114. Each of options 114 is associated with a particular key operation on keypad 16a. Options 114 differ, however, from conventional paging system message selection options by including paging device 12 user-specific content. Each of options 14 include a phrase 116 established, i.e., created, by the corresponding paging device 12 user. When composing such phrases 116, the paging device 12 user performs unlimited free-form alphanumeric text composition. Any content which can be transmitted by paging system 10 and displayed on paging device 12 display 26 can be established as one of phrases 116. The number of phrases 116 available for use by a given paging device 12 user varies according to user needs and according to availability of paging system 10 resources. To illustrate the present invention, three such phrases 116, individually 116a-116c, will be shown. Each paging device 12 user can establish phrases 116 within paging system 10 by a variety of mechanisms, e.g., computer terminal, alphanumeric data entry or via paging system 10 operator. Also, because phrases 116 pertain to a particular paging device 12 user, voice-to-text conversion may be executed via PSTN 18 and a conventional telephone 16 with the paging device 12 user being the caller 14. In any event, paging device 12 users can compose free-form alphanumeric messages and make such messages available for selection to any caller 14.

When caller 14 selects a given one of options 114, i.e., executes the corresponding key operation on keypad 16a, the associated phrase 116a appears as an alphanumeric message on display 26 of the target paging device 12. A caller 114 need not have any preknowledge of the available custom alphanumeric messages which may be sent to a user of a paging device 12. Caller 114 uses a conventional telephone 16 and keypad 16a to initiate a custom alphanumeric paging message. System 10 thereby allows callers 14 to send information-rich, i.e., alphanumeric, messages to paging devices 12. Callers 14 need not remember prearranged coded messages or even have any preknowledge concerning available custom alphanumeric message presentation at a given paging device 12. In this manner, the conventional telephone 16a, even though severely limited as a data entry device, allows callers 14 to provide meaningful information to paging device 12 users beyond mere numeric paging messages and without significant effort in manipulating keypad 16a.

FIG. 4 illustrates a data structure for custom message options set 60 as represented in user profiles 56 and used by voice response unit 52 when presenting menu 110 to caller 14. In FIG. 4, a specific custom message options set 60 is shown for a specific paging device 12 user. As may be appreciated, user profiles 56 include a similar data structure for each paging device 12 user of paging system 10. The custom message options set 60 for a given paging device 12 user provides the various options 114 of menu 110 when a caller 14 pages that given device 12 user. Each record in a given custom message options set 60 includes a code field 120 corresponding to a conventional telephone keypad 16a key operation, a text phrase field 122 representing one of the text phrases 116, and a voice phrase field 124 representing as voice or sound data the phrase 116 of the corresponding text phrase 122.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, both the text phrase 122 and voice phrase 124 represent the same information. Use of voice phrase 124 as part of a custom message options set 60 set allows a paging device 12 user to store phrases 116 in his or her own voice. For example, a paging device 12 user interacts with paging system 10 to record each of the phrases 116 and a given caller 114 hears the paging device 12 user's voice during menu 110. The corresponding text phrase 122 can be generated by voice-to-text conversion or by a system 0 operator. Because the interaction concerns a specific individual, i.e., a specific paging device 12 user, voice-to-text conversion becomes feasible.

In the alternative, a voice phrase 124 need not be used. The text phrase 122 representing a given phrase 116 may be presented to a caller 114 by use of a text-to-speech conversion process executed by voice response unit 52. Thus, alternate embodiments of the present invention need not use both a text phrase field 122 and voice phrase field 124.

Each record of a paging device 12 user's custom message options set 60 corresponds to a menu choice available to a caller 114 when presented with menu 110. Once caller 114 selects one of options 114 in menu 110, voice response unit 52 provides new paging message 54 to central control 50 as a representation of the selected custom message. For example, voice response unit 52 provides new paging message 54 to central control 50 as text data, i.e., as taken from text phrase 122. Alternatively, voice response unit 52 provides new paging message 54 as a code indicating a custom message and, for example, a value taken from code field 120. Central control 50, also having access to the particular user ID 58 and user profiles 56, thereby obtains the text field 122 indicated by the caller 14 in response to menu 110 presentation. Central control 50 receives sufficient information from voice response unit 52 to construct an appropriate alphanumeric paging message for transmission to a selected paging device 12. When a caller 14 selects the custom messages options from menu 100 and selects one of options 114 from menu 110, the paging message transmitted to a given paging device 12 causes display of a custom alphanumeric message specific to that particular paging device 12 user.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment that has been described and illustrated, and that variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as found in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. In a paging system transmitting alphanumeric paging information to selected paging devices in response to callers interacting with said system via voice prompt menus and telephone keypads, an improvement comprising the method steps of: storing a custom message options set associated with a given paging device, said custom message options set representing at least one alphanumeric paging message composed by a user of said given paging device; interacting said voice prompt menu with a caller indicating need to send a paging message to said given paging device, said interacting step including voice prompt menu presentation of said custom message options set and including selection by said caller of a member of said custom message options set as a paging message to be transmitted to said given paging device; and displaying at said given paging device an alphanumeric representation of said selected member of said custom message options set.

2. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said storing step includes storing at least a text data form of each member of said custom message options set.

3. An improvement according to claim 2 wherein said method includes transmitting said text data form of said selected member of said custom message options set and wherein said given paging device receives and displays said text data form of said selected member of said custom message options set.

4. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said storing step includes storing a voice data form of each member of said custom message options set.

5. An improvement according to claim 4 wherein said interacting step includes presentation of said custom message options set via said voice data form of each said member of said custom message options set.

6. An improvement according to claim 5 wherein said storing step includes recording a user voice as said voice data form of each said member of said custom message options set.

7. An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said storing step includes recording a user voice as said voice data form of each member of said custom message options set.

8. A paging system comprising: a population of paging devices receiving paging information via radio signal and displaying said paging information, said paging information including alphanumeric information; a clearinghouse interacting with callers via telephone to create paging messages for transmission by said radio signal to selected members of said population of paging devices, said clearinghouse storing a custom message options set associated with each member of said population of paging devices, each member of each custom message options set representing paging information to be transmitted to the associated paging device user upon selection by said caller, each options set including at least one alphanumeric message composed by a user of the associated member of said population of paging devices, said clearinghouse presenting for selection members of a given custom message options set to said caller and transmitting the associated paging information to the associated paging device when selected by said caller.

9. An alphanumeric paging system paging system interacting with callers and transmitting alphanumeric messages to a population of paging devices, each alphanumeric paging message being addressable to and displayable at least one of said population of paging devices, said system comprising: a clearinghouse storing a custom message options set associated with each member of said population of paging devices, said clearinghouse presenting a given custom message options set associated with a given paging device by voice prompt menu to a given caller via conventional telephone whereby said given caller selects by telephone keypad operation a member of said given custom message options set for transmission as an alphanumeric message to said given paging device.