WO2000007378A2

WO2000007378A2 - Apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using radio paging network

Info

Publication number: WO2000007378A2
Application number: PCT/KR1999/000415
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun Min Kim
Original assignee: Ami Telecom Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 1998-07-30
Filing date: 1999-07-30
Publication date: 2000-02-10
Also published as: KR20000000049A; AU5069099A; KR19990081750A; WO2000007378A3; KR100279382B1; KR19980059663U

Abstract

An apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using a radio paging network, comprising a dedicated transmission system for receiving the numeric and character information containing frequently fluctuating exchange rate information, stock information and weather information from information sources through a dedicated line, combining the received numeric and character information into a unique transmission format and transmitting a data frame of the unique transmission format through the radio paging network in a broadcasting manner repetitively a predetermined number of times for a predetermined period of time, and a plurality of numeric/character display radio receivers having a common reception code assigned thereto, each of the numeric/character display radio receivers repetitively receiving the data frame from the dedicated transmission system, verifying the presence of a reception error in the received data frame and automatically displaying the received data frame on a display screen according to items under no control or full or partial remote control of the dedicated transmission system. The transmission/reception apparatus can most economically and efficiently provide real-time services of the frequently fluctuating information.

Description

APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING NUMERIC AND CHARACTER INFORMATION USING RADIO PAGING NETWORK

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates in general to the transmission and reception of information using, as a data transfer medium, a wide-area radio network of a radio paging system which performs a personal paging operation, and more particularly to an apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using a radio paging network, which is capable of most economically and efficiently providing real-time services of frequently fluctuating information such as exchange rate information, stock information and other economic information to the user.

PRIOR ART

Generally, pagers are radio terminals for performing a personal paging operation in such a manner that they display telephone numbers or character messages thereon. With the pagers significantly developed as personal paging means, radio paging networks, operating the pagers, have been built up widely throughout the world. As a result, there have been proposed various approaches to utilizing the built-up radio paging networks as data transfer means for other purposes, a part of which have been commercially available as control means.

Numerals and characters are transmitted between such a radio paging system and a pager on the basis of a predetermined protocol, typically POCSAG/FLEX. However, the radio paging system and protocol are subjected to many restrictions in being applied for other purposes, because they are set in a suitable manner to the pager.

Further, a large number of words may be wrong or omitted in a transmitted message due to weak reception sensitivities and electromagnetic wave obstacles of radio reception regions. As a result, the radio paging system is not applicable to products for other purposes which require greater accuracy and stability in reception.

Accordingly, in order to provide various information services using the existing radio paging system as a transfer medium, there is a need for a unique transmission format based on numeric data transferred through the general radio paging protocol. There is a further need for a dedicated transmission system which is capable of collecting data of the unique transmission format from information sources in real time, automatically processing the collected data and transmitting the processed data via the radio paging system. There is further required a radio reception display unit which is capable of repetitively receiving data at a frequency of the existing radio paging network, verifying the received data through various processes, automatically displaying exchange rate information, stock information and other information, the kernel of which is accuracy and rapidity, in real time in accordance with the verified result and performing the reception and display functions under individual remote control of a transmission source as desired.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character infonnation using a radio paging network, which is capable of utilizing an existing radio paging system as various data transfer medium on the basis of a unique transmission format to overcome data transmission errors such as wrongness and omission of words and incongruent applications for other purposes, which an existing pager suffers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using a radio paging network, which is capable of efficiently transmitting numeric and character information in real time using an existing radio paging system of low cost, displaying only accurate reception information and remotely controlling reception and display functions of a plurality of radio receivers individually on the basis of a single reception code. In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by a provision of an apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using a radio paging network, comprising a dedicated transmission system for receiving the numeric and character information containing frequently fluctuating exchange rate information, stock information and weather information from information sources through a dedicated line, combining the received numeric and character information into a unique transmission format and transmitting a data frame of the unique transmission format through the radio paging network in a broadcasting manner repetitively a predetermined number of times for a predetermined period of time; and a plurality of numeric/character display radio receivers having a common reception code assigned thereto, each of the numeric/character display radio receivers repetitively receiving the data frame from the dedicated transmission system, verifying the presence of a reception error in the received data frame and automatically displaying the received data frame on a display screen according to items under no control or full or partial remote control of the dedicated transmission system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a dedicated transmission system for collecting and processing various economic information and transmitting the processed information, which is transmission means of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a format of data transmitted from the dedicated transmission system in Fig. 1 through a radio paging system in accordance with the present invention; 5 Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a numeric/character display radio receiver which is reception means of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the numeric/character display radio receiver in Fig. 3 in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a code table for remote control and data selection for the 10 radio receiver in Fig. 3 in accordance with the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a data process of the dedicated transmission system in Fig. 1 in accordance with the present invention .

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 15

With reference to Fig. 1, there is shown in block form the construction of a dedicated transmission system for collecting and processing various economic information and transmitting the processed information, which is transmission means of the present invention, wherein the dedicated transmission system is denoted by the reference numeral

20 10.

As shown in Fig. 1 , the dedicated transmission system comprises financial circles 1 for providing financial data regarding exchange rate information, a stock exchange 2 for providing data regarding stock information, economic information sources 3 for providing data regarding economic information other than the exchange rate information and stock 25 information, a computer 5 for receiving the associated data from the financial circles 1 , stock exchange 2 and economic information sources 3 through a dedicated line 4 and processing the received data, a transmission controller 6 for controlling transmission of output data from the computer 5, and a typical radio paging system 7 for transmitting output data from the transmission controller 6 in the form of radio signals to a plurality of numeric/character display radio receivers 8. Each of the numeric/character display radio receivers 8 is reception means of the present invention for receiving the transmission data 5 from the radio paging system 7.

With reference to Fig. 3, there is shown in block form the construction of the numeric/character display radio receiver 8 in Fig. 1 in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 3, the numeric/character display radio receiver 8 comprises a radio

10 frequency (R/F) module 82 for receiving a radio signal from the dedicated transmission system 10 through an antenna 81 and processing the received radio signal so that it can be subjected to the subsequent signal processing, a decoder 83 for decoding an output signal from the R/F module 82, an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 85 for storing data regarding a reception frequency band of the R/F module 82,

15 and a sub central processing unit (CPU) 84 for controlling the R/F module 82, decoder 83 and EEPROM 85 and transferring output data from the decoder 83 to a main CPU 87. The main CPU 87 is adapted to determine whether the data transferred from the sub CPU 84 is normal and control a real time clock (RTC) generator 86, a static random access memory (SRAM) 88, a segment light emitting diode (LED) driver 90 and a dot-matrix LED driver

20 91 in accordance with the determined result. The RTC generator 86 is a time module for generating data regarding date and time. The SRAM 88 stores the data transferred from the sub CPU 84 under the control of the main CPU 87. The segment LED driver 90 and dot- matrix LED driver 91 are adapted to display numeric and character information under the control of the main CPU 87, respectively. A power supply 89 is adapted to supply power

25 to all the components of the radio receiver 8 under the control of the user.

Now, the operation of the numeric/character display radio receiver 8 with the above- mentioned construction in accordance with the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the numeric/character display radio receiver 8 in Fig. 3 in accordance with the present invention. First, if the power supply 89 is turned on, the sub CPU 84 initializes the R/F module 82 to a frequency band set in the EEPROM 85 at step SI 1. As a result, the R/F module 82 receives a radio signal from the dedicated transmission system 10 through the antenna 81 at the set frequency band and processes the received radio signal so that it can be subjected to the subsequent signal processing. The decoder 83 converts an output signal from the R/F module 82 into digital data and transfers the converted digital data to the main CPU 87. At this time, the output data from the decoder 83 is composed of a plurality of predetermined codes.

The main CPU 87 determines at step S12 whether the output of the decoder 83 is an end bit. If the output of the decoder 83 is the end bit at step SI 2, the main CPU 87 confirms a group code of the output data from the decoder 83 at step S13.

If the group code of the output data from the decoder 83 is confirmed at the above step SI 3, the main CPU 87 checks an error prevention code, or a parity code, of the output data from the decoder 83 at step S14 to prevent the reception of erroneous data. If the output data from the decoder 83 is found to be normal as a result of the checking, then it is stored in a first location of the SRAM 88 under the control of the main CPU 87 at step S15. Thereafter, the main CPU 87 determines at step S16 whether the data stored in the

SRAM 88 is first reception data. If the data stored in the SRAM 88 is the first reception data at step SI 6, the main CPU 87 returns to the above step S12 to repeat the data reception. However, in the case where it is determined at step S16 that the data stored in the SRAM 88 is not the first reception data, the main CPU 87 recognizes that it is second reception data stored in a second location of the SRAM 88 and thus compares the first and second reception data (repetitive data) with each other on the basis of the predetermined codes at step SI 7. In the case where the first and second reception data are found to be the same as a result of the comparison, the main CPU 87 checks a control code of the same reception data at step SI 8. In accordance with the checked result, the main CPU 87 corrects date/time information at step S19 and performs a reception function remote control operation of, for example, suspending a display function, at step S20.

Further, the main CPU 87 processes display values according to selection and function codes of the same reception data at step S21.

Then, the main CPU 87 transfers the processed display values to the corresponding LED drivers 90 and 91 to display numeric and character information at steps S22 and S23, respectively.

As stated previously, the radio receiver 8 comprises the RTC generator 86 which is a time module for generating data regarding date and time. The RTC generator 86 sets date/time data according to a reference value and supplies the set date/time data to the main CPU 87. The reference value is varied depending on a time correction signal from the dedicated transmission system, thereby allowing a plurality of radio receivers to always display a correct date and time with no error.

Fig. 2 shows a unique data format transmitted from the dedicated transmission system 10 to the radio receiver 8 through the radio paging system 7 in accordance with the present invention. This unique transmission data format is set to prevent data loss, crosstalk and wrongness and omission of words resulting from the utilization of the typical radio paging system as the data transfer means between the dedicated transmission system 10 and the radio receiver 8 and to maximize the availability of transmission data based on the sharing.

The unique data format is a combination of 8-byte code values which are produced by the dedicated transmission system on the basis of ASCII code numeric values transferred according to a standard transfer protocol of the radio paging system.

Namely, the unique data format is sequentially composed of a 2-byte group code, a 2-byte control code, a 2-byte selection code, a 2-byte function code, data of 6-320 bytes and a 1-byte parity code for error checking. The parity code is given the remainder resulting from the division of the sum of transmission code values by a predetermined function. The dedicated transmission system processes a large amount of data in real time and transmits the processed data through a radio paging network and each radio receiver selects and displays only accurate data of a desired code value. Hence, the transfer network and radio receivers can very economically and efficiently be managed.

Upon receiving a data frame of the unique transmission format as mentioned above, the radio receiver 8 can perform main function remote control and data selection by items as shown in Fig. 5.

In more detail, the radio receiver 8 makes a distinction between initial transmission data (code value: 00) and repetitive transmission data (code value: 01) for specific numeric and character information on the basis of the 2-byte control code. The radio receiver 8 automatically corrects a date/time error periodically on the basis of a date/time correction code (10) transferred through the transfer network.

Further, the dedicated transmission system controls information service reception of the radio receiver on the basis of reception information display ON/OFF codes (11 and 12). This is usefully applicable to managing the receipt of an information service charge. The reception information selection code of the data frame received by the radio receiver 8 is used to subdivide the transmission data according to information items such as exchange rate information, stock information and news information. Therefore, a single transmission system can process a variety of numeric and character information and a plurality of radio receivers can commonly receive integrated data transmitted in a broadcasting manner, select the contents of the received data according to desired items and express the selected contents in various ways.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a data process of the computer 5 in the dedicated transmission system 10 of Fig. 1 in accordance with the present invention.

The computer 5 performs a data processing operation to produce the code table as shown in Fig. 5.

First, upon inputting numeric and character information from the information sources 1, 2 and 3 at step SI, the computer 5 assigns information source group code values according to input ports at step S2. Also, the computer 5 assigns reception control function code values and data selection code values according to settings at steps S3 and S4.

Display function code values are automatically set at step S5.

After setting the various codes and functions, the computer 5 combines the set codes and data at step S6 and sums the combined results at step S7. Then, the computer 5 assigns the resultant error prevention code to the associated data frame at step S8, sets automatic/repetitive transmission time at step S9 and automatically transmits the resultant data frame repetitively through the radio paging system at step S10.

It should be noted that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible in the radio receiver of the present invention so far as they depart from the scope and spirit of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the transmission/reception apparatus comprising the dedicated transmission system and radio receiver can rapidly provide wide-area services of various economic information at low cost by utilizing the typical radio paging network as real-time data transfer means. In particular, the transmission/reception apparatus can concurrently effect the provision of information services to a plurality of radio receivers and the reception management thereof on the basis of a reception code for one pager. Therefore, the present invention is very useful either economically or communication-industrially. Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using a radio paging network, comprising: a dedicated transmission system for receiving said numeric and character infomiation containing frequently fluctuating exchange rate information, stock information and weather information from information sources through a dedicated line, combining the received numeric and character information into a unique transmission format and transmitting a data frame of said unique transmission format through said radio paging network in a broadcasting manner repetitively a predetermined number of times for a predetermined period of time; and a plurality of numeric/character display radio receivers having a common reception code assigned thereto, each of said numeric/character display radio receivers repetitively receiving said data frame from said dedicated transmission system, verifying the presence of a reception error in the received data frame and automatically displaying the received data frame on a display screen according to items under no control or full or partial remote control of said dedicated transmission system.

2. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using a radio paging network, as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein said unique transmission format is sequentially composed of a 2-byte group code, a 2-byte control code, a 2-byte selection code, a 2-byte function code, data of 6-320 bytes and a 1-byte parity code.

3. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using a radio paging network, as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein said dedicated transmission system is adapted to transmit said data frame to said numeric/character display radio receivers by performing the steps of: assigning an information source group code to said numeric and character information; assigning a reception control code to said numeric and character information; assigning a data selection code to said numeric and character information; assigning a display function code to said numeric and character information; combining said assigned codes and said numeric and character information to produce said unique transmission format; summing the combined results; assigning an error prevention code resulting from the summing to said unique transmission format ; setting automatic/repetitive transmission time; and automatically transmitting the resultant data frame repetitively through said radio paging network for a period of the set automatic/repetitive transmission time.

4. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using a radio paging network, as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said unique transmission format includes: main codes for controlling reception and display functions of said numeric/character display radio receivers: and control and function codes for allowing said radio receivers to freely select data of desired items from said data frame and automatically receive the selected data.

5. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving numeric and character information using a radio paging network, as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said numeric/character display radio receivers are adapted to repetitively receive said data frame from said dedicated transmission system with respect to specific numeric and character information, compare the first reception data frame with the second reception data frame, normally process said data frame from said dedicated transmission system if there is no error as a result of the comparison and display the processed data frame.