U.S. patent application number 10/367905 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-09 for communications system with radio device and server.
This patent application is currently assigned to MOTOROLA. Invention is credited to Adler, Alfred, Hyder, Robert Lee.
Application Number | 20030191808 10/367905 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21759979 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030191808 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Adler, Alfred ; et
al. |
October 9, 2003 |
Communications system with radio device and server
Abstract
A communications system having a first server (205) with an
electronic mail (e-mail) database for managing e-mail accounts, for
storing radio device addresses associated with those accounts, and
for storing electronic mail messages associated with those
accounts. Each message has a header and text. A gateway connects
the first server to a two-way radio network. A radio device (200)
has a electronic messaging application. The radio device is capable
of two-way communication over the two-way radio network. The first
server comprises message handling software arranged to send, to the
radio device, a portion of a message of a predetermined size,
including a header portion and a text portion. The radio device
(200) can request more of a message.
Inventors: |
Adler, Alfred; (Alpharetta,
GA) ; Hyder, Robert Lee; (Alpharetta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
MOTOROLA
Schaumburg
IL
|
Family ID: |
21759979 |
Appl. No.: |
10/367905 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10367905 |
Feb 19, 2003 |
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09645832 |
Aug 25, 2000 |
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09645832 |
Aug 25, 2000 |
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09013439 |
Jan 26, 1998 |
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6157630 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/207 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/58 20220501;
H04W 92/02 20130101; H04W 4/16 20130101; H04W 84/025 20130101; H04L
51/214 20220501; H04W 4/18 20130101; H04W 88/023 20130101; H04W
4/12 20130101; H04L 51/066 20130101; H04W 88/184 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/207 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/16 |
Claims
1. A method of redirecting messages between a host system and a
radio device during a virtual session between the same, comprising
the steps of: initiating communication between the host system and
the radio device; registering the radio device at the host system
and generating a redirection trigger; receiving messages directed
to a first address at the host system from a plurality of message
senders; in response to the redirection trigger, continuously
redirecting the messages from the host system to the radio device;
receiving the messages at the radio device; generating reply
messages at the radio device to be sent to the plurality of message
senders and transmitting the reply messages to the host system;
receiving the messages at the host system from the radio device and
correlating address information of the messages such that the
messages use an appropriate address associated with the host system
as the originating address, wherein messages generated at either
the host system or the radio device share the address associated
with the host system; and transmitting the messages from the host
system to the plurality of message senders.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: storing
information regarding the configuration of the radio device at the
host system.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information
stored at the host system includes: (A) the network address of the
radio device; and (B) protocol information regarding the format or
coding of the messages.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the configuration information
stored at the host system further includes: (C) an indication of an
identification of a radio device.
5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of: for each
message to be redirected, the host system determining whether the
message includes an attachment; if so, then maintaining the
attachment at the host system.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the type of attachment is a
readable file.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received messages are
addressed using a sender address and a receiver address, the method
further comprising the steps of: determining whether the receiver
address is associated with the radio device; if the receiver
address is associated with the radio device, then determining a
network address of the radio device and readdressing the messages
using the receiver address and the network address of the radio
device; and after receiving the redirecting messages at the radio
device, displaying the messages at the radio device using the
sender address and the receiver address, so that the radio device
is able to act in the same manner as a terminal at the host
system.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication is initiated
between the host system and the radio device in response to an
external event or a networked event.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the external event includes the
step of sending a registration message from the radio device to the
host system.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the networked event includes the
step of sending a page from the host system to the radio
device.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the sending step is initiated
in response to the host system determining that the radio device
has registered with a wireless system.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the external event further
comprises the step of forming a communications object at the radio
device.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of
authenticating the radio device at the host system after the
communication has been initiated.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio device is a pager.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio device is equipped to
send and receive messages.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the host system includes a set
of rules for limiting the redirection of only those messages that
are transmitted to the host system from a sender identified by the
set of rules.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein a user can modify the set of
rules.
18. The method of claim 27, wherein the user can modify the set of
rules by configuring the host system.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the user can modify the set of
rules by transmitting a message from the radio device to the host
system.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of rules is activated
and deactivated at the host system.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of rules is activated
and deactivated by a message transmitted from the radio device to
the host system.
22. A message redirection method performed at a host system during
a virtual session between the host system and a radio device,
comprising the steps of: associating a first address with the host
system; initiating communication between the host system and the
radio device; registering the radio device at the host system and
generating a redirection trigger; receiving messages at the host
system from a plurality of message senders; in response to the
redirection trigger, continuously redirecting the received messages
from the host system to the radio device; receiving reply messages
from the radio device at the host system and correlating address
information of the reply messages using the first address
associated with the host system as the originating address, wherein
messages generated at either the host system or the radio device
share the first address; and transmitting the configured reply
messages from the host system to the plurality of message
senders.
23. A message redirection method performed during a virtual session
between a host system and a radio device comprising the steps of:
initiating communication between the host system and the radio
device; registering the radio device at the host system and
generating a redirection trigger; receiving messages at the host
system from a plurality of message senders; in response to the
redirection trigger, continuously redirecting the received messages
from the host system to a radio device associated with the host
system; receiving the redirected messages at the radio device;
generating reply messages at the radio device; transmitting the
reply messages from the radio device to the host system; receiving
the reply messages at the host system and correlating the reply
messages using the first email address for the user of the radio
device as the address originating the reply messages, wherein
messages generated at either the host system or the radio device
share the first email address; and transmitting the correlated
reply messages from the host system to the plurality of message
senders.
24. A method for redirecting messages between a host system and a
radio device during a virtual session between the same, comprising
the steps of: initiating communication between the host system and
the radio device; registering the radio device at the host system
and generating a redirection trigger; receiving incoming messages
directed to a first address at the host system from a plurality of
message senders, wherein the first address is associated with
messages generated at the host system by a user of the radio
device; in response to the redirection trigger, continuously
redirecting the incoming messages from the host system to the radio
device; receiving outgoing messages generated at the radio device
at the host system; correlating address information of the outgoing
messages so that the first address is used as an originating
address of the outgoing messages, wherein messages generated at
either the radio device or the host system share the first address;
and transmitting the outgoing messages from the host system to the
message recipients, redirecting the received message to the message
recipient.
25. A method for redirecting messages generated at a radio device
by a message sender destined for a message recipient, comprising
the steps of: initiating communication between the host system and
the radio device; registering the radio device at the host system
and generating a redirection trigger; continuously redirecting
messages received at the host system to the radio device; receiving
a message, generated at the radio device by the message sender
destined for the message recipient, at a message portion handling
routine associated with a host system, wherein messages generated
at the host system by the message sender use a first address;
correlating address information of the received message such that
the received message uses the message sender's first address as the
address originating the message, wherein messages generated at
either the radio device or the host system share the message
sender's first address; and redirecting the configured received
message to the message recipient.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the communication is initiated
between the host system and the radio device in response to an
external event or a networked event.
27. The method of claim 25, further comprising the steps of:
configuring one or more message filters at the host system; and
filtering received messages at the host system using the one or
more message filters prior to redirecting messages to the radio
device.
28. A method of redirecting messages between a host system and a
radio device, comprising the steps of: configuring one or more
redirection events at the host system; detecting that a redirection
event has occurred at the host system and generating a redirection
trigger; receiving messages directed to a first address at the host
system from a plurality of message senders; in response to the
redirection trigger, continuously redirecting the messages from the
host system to the radio device; receiving the messages at the
radio device; generating reply messages at the radio device to be
sent to the plurality of message senders and transmitting the reply
messages to the host system; receiving the reply messages at the
host system and correlating address information of the reply
messages such that the reply messages use the first address
associated with the host system as the originating address, wherein
messages generated at either the host system or the radio device
share the first address; and transmitting the reply messages from
the host system to the plurality of message senders.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of: storing
information regarding the configuration of the radio device at the
host system.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the configuration information
stored at the host system includes: (A) the network address of the
radio device; and (B) protocol information regarding the format or
coding of the messages.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the configuration information
stored at the host system further includes: (C) an indication of an
identification of a radio device.
32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of: for
each message to be redirected, the host system determining whether
the message includes an attachment; if so, then maintaining the
attachment at the host system.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the type of attachment is a
readable file.
34. The method of claim 28, wherein the received messages are
addressed using a sender address and a receiver address, the method
further comprising the steps of: determining whether the receiver
address is associated with the radio device; if the receiver
address is associated with the radio device, then determining a
network address of the radio device and readdressing the messages
using the receiver address and the network address of the radio
device; and after receiving the redirecting messages at the radio
device, displaying the messages at the radio device using the
sender address and the receiver address, so that the radio device
is able to act in the same manner as a terminal at the host
system.
35. The method of claim 28, wherein the redirection events include
external events or networked events.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the external event is a message
from the radio device to start redirection.
37. The method of claim 28, wherein the radio device is a
pager.
38. The method of claim 28, wherein the radio device is equipped to
send and receive messages.
39. The method of claim 28, wherein the host system includes a set
of rules for limiting the redirection of only those messages that
are transmitted to the host system from a sender identified by the
set of rules.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein a user can modify the set of
rules.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein the user can modify the set of
rules by configuring the host system.
42. The method of claim 40, wherein the user can modify the set of
rules by transmitting a message from the radio device to the host
system.
43. The method of claim 39, wherein the set of rules is activated
and deactivated at the host system.
44. The method of claim 39, wherein the set of rules is activated
and deactivated by a message transmitted from the radio device to
the host system.
45. A message redirection method operating at a host system,
comprising the steps of: associating a first address with the host
system; configuring one or more redirection events at the host
system; detecting that a redirection event has occurred at the host
system and generating a redirection trigger; receiving messages at
the host system from a plurality of message senders; in response to
the redirection trigger, continuously redirecting the received
messages from the host system to a radio device associated with the
host system; receiving reply messages from the radio device at the
host system, translating the reply messages, and correlating the
address information of the reply message in order to use the first
address associated with the host system as the originating address,
wherein messages generated at either the radio device or the host
system share the first address; and transmitting the translated
reply messages from the host system to the plurality of message
senders.
46. A message redirection method comprising the steps of:
configuring one or more redirection events at a host system;
detecting that a redirection event has occurred at the host system
and generating a redirection trigger; receiving messages at the
host system from a plurality of message senders; in response to the
redirection trigger, continuously redirecting the received messages
from the host system to a radio device associated with the host
system, wherein a first email address for the user of the radio
device is associated with the host system; receiving the redirected
messages at the radio device; generating reply messages at the
radio device; transmitting the reply messages from the radio device
to the host system; receiving the reply messages at the host
system, translating the reply messages, and correlating the address
information of the reply message in order to use the first email
address for the user of the radio device as the address originating
the reply messages, wherein messages generated at either the host
system or the radio device share the first email address; and
transmitting the translated reply messages from the host system to
the plurality of message senders.
47. A method for redirecting messages generated at a radio device
by a message sender destined for a message recipient, comprising
the steps of: receiving a message, generated at the radio device by
the message sender destined for the message recipient, at a message
portion handling routine with a host system, wherein messages
generated at the host system by the message sender use a first
address; correlating address information of the received message
such that the received message uses the message sender's first
address as the address originating the message, wherein messages
generated at either the radio device or host system share the
message sender's first address; and redirecting the received
message to the message recipient; configuring one or more
redirection events at the host system; detecting that a redirection
event has occurred at the host system and generating a redirection
trigger; and continuously redirecting messages received at the host
system to the radio device.
48. The method of claim 47, further comprising the steps of:
configuring one or more message filters at the host system; and
filtering received messages at the host system using the one or
more message filters prior to redirecting messages to the radio
device.
49. The method for redirecting messages between a host system and a
radio device, comprising the steps of: configuring one or more
redirection events at the host system; detecting that a redirection
event has occurred at the host system and generating a redirection
trigger; receiving incoming messages directed to a first address at
the host system from a plurality of message senders, wherein the
first address is associated with messages generated at the host
system by a user of the radio device; in response to the
redirection trigger, continuously redirecting the incoming messages
from the host system to the radio device; receiving outgoing
messages generated at the radio device at the host system;
correlating address information of the outgoing messages so that
the first address is used as an originating address of the outgoing
messages, wherein messages generated at either the radio device or
the host system share the first address; and transmitting the
outgoing messages from the host system to message recipients.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a communications system with a
radio device and a server. Separately and in addition, it relates
to a radio device (e.g., a pager) for such a system having certain
software referred to as "Client" software and a server having
certain software referred to as "Server" software. A radio
communications system such as (but not limited to) an asymmetric
public two-way paging system connects the radio device and the
server.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There is an increasing demand for businessmen, professionals
and ordinary consumers to have greater access to communications on
the move. Paging systems have become very popular for
communications, enabling a user to carry a lightweight, low cost
device that has good wide-area and in-building penetration. In the
past, paging systems have suffered from the disadvantage of being
one-way only, but recently Motorola, Inc. has introduced the
"Reflex" asymmetric two-way paging system which enables a user to
respond to incoming messages. Asymmetric systems are particularly
beneficial for sending out to the pager volumes of data that exceed
the volumes expected to be sent back. They are particularly suited
to the sending back of short acknowledgments or tags identifying
"canned" responses (such as "OK" or "I'm unable to reply right
now").
[0003] Simultaneously with the development of asymmetric two-way
paging systems, symmetric two-way data systems such as the `ARDIS`
(trademark) system have developed, enabling significant volumes of
data to be sent in both directions over a nationwide public data
system.
[0004] It is known to provide remote electronic mail (e-mail)
connection between a private e-mail server and a portable computer
using a two-way radio modem such as a "Personal Messenger 100D"
(trademark) modem manufactured by Motorola, Inc. Such an
arrangement is shown in FIG. 1. The modem 106 is plugged into a
PCMCIA slot of a portable computer 105 and a two-way connection to
the private e-mail server is established (almost like establishment
of a two-way telephone modem link) between a portable computer and
its host server. The connection is via a base station 120 and a
public network server 110 of the public two-way radio network 130.
In such an arrangement, the computer behaves just as if it were
connected by a wireless local area network (LAN) to the server,
except that the connection is slow (low band width and high
latency). A screen will appear on the portable computer 105 showing
the entire contents of an "in" box maintained at the host server
115, with message types, sender names, times of receipt and the
like. By selecting a particular message (using a mouse or
otherwise), a command is sent to the server causing the entire
message to be downloaded to the portable computer.
[0005] Such two-way radio messaging systems tend to be expensive,
partly because of the cost of providing a significant bandwidth
radio channel which is largely dedicated (at a given time) to the
user. Another contribution to the high cost is the separate modem
and portable computer.
[0006] There is a need for a convenient and inexpensive way to
access a private e-mail server over a radio system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a prior art two-way radio communication
system.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a two-way radio communication system in
accordance with the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows an example of an e-mail message for purposes of
illustration.
[0010] FIG. 4 shows details of the communication system of FIG.
2.
[0011] FIG. 5 shows screen shots of screens that appear on a
display of the radio device of FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram illustrating certain operations
in the radio device of FIG. 2.
[0013] FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram illustrating the steps of
establishing a virtual session between a radio device and a
host/server.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring to FIG. 2, a radio communications system is shown
comprising a radio device 200 in the form of a two-way pager,
preferably a PageWriter (trademark) pager available from Motorola,
Inc. at 200 North Point Center East Street 100, Alpharetta, Ga.,
30202, USA. The radio device 200 is in communication with a base
station 201 of a public asymmetric two-way paging system 202,
having a public network server 203. Such a system is provided, for
example, under the trademark Skytel. Connected to the public
network server 203 via a gateway 204 is a private network server
205, referred to as a "host" server. The term "host" indicates that
certain communications devices are associated with the host server
205, i.e., are registered with that host server. Such communication
devices include LAW connected terminals (described below) and
include the radio device 200. The host sever 205 has virtual-client
software 206, described in greater detail below.
[0015] The ratio device 200 may be a two-way page a portable
computer with radio capability, for example, a portable computer
having a modem. The network 202 is not necessarily an asymmetric
paging network, but can alternatively be a symmetric radio network,
such as the "ARDIS" network. The base station 201 is shown for
illustration only. The network 202 will in fact have many base
stations dispersed around the nation. The network 202 is shown as
having a single base station 201 for two-way communication with the
radio device 200, but an alternative arrangement is possible in
which there are many more receivers than transmitters in the
network 202. The gateway 204 between the public network server 203
and the host server 205 is preferably an internet connection, but
can take many forms. The connection may be a dedicated connection,
or a public ISDN connection, or an analog modem connection. The
gateway 204 could even be a radio connection into the network
202.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 3, an example of an electronic mail
(e-mail) message is shown. The message comprises a header 301 and a
body or text 302. The message is also shown as having an attachment
303, for example a picture. Within the header there is a sender
field 310, a date and time field 311 and a subject field 312. There
is also an address field illustrated here as field 313. A further
field is typically available (but not shown in FIG. 3), this being
a cc field, indicating other recipients of the message. The
attachment 303 can be included within the body of the message, or
there may be an information field in the header 301, indicating the
existence of the attachment and (optionally) the nature of the
attachment.
[0017] In a prior art e-mail system using a radio network
connection, it is known to present information from the header 301
at a radio device, in the form of a summary page summarizing,
typically in column form, senders of messages, times of receipt and
subject. It is a problem that the text 302 of a message can be very
long. In the example given in FIG. 3, there is a message from Baby
Bear to Mommy Bear, but as a continuation of this message, there is
an earlier message from Mommy Bear to Daddy Bear. It is quite
typical for multiple messages to be stacked together in a lengthy
text. To send an entire message to a radio device can result in
extensive and unnecessary usage of the limited and valuable
capacity of the radio channel. Additionally, it is illustrated in
FIG. 3 that there is an attachment 303, which is a picture imbedded
in the body of the text 302. Attachments are commonly even larger
than the text in which they are embodied. Pictures, for example,
represent very large data files. The recipient of the message may
not need the attachment or may not have the capability of viewing
the attachment.
[0018] The manner in which a message such as the message shown in
FIG. 3 is handled by the system illustrated in FIG. 2 will be
described, and for the purposes of description, further details of
the system on FIG. 2 are described with reference to FIG. 4. In the
following description, elements already described with reference to
FIG. 2 are not described again.
[0019] Referring to the radio device 200 illustrated in FIG. 4, it
is shown as having a transmitter 401 and receiver 402 coupled to an
antenna 403 (e.g., using a duplexer or antenna switch, neither of
which is illustrated). The transceiver 40 and receiver 402 are
connected to a control circuit 405, preferably a microprocessor.
The control circuit 405, has associated memory 406 and has
prestored message memory 407. The memory 406 and the associated
message memory 407 can indeed be the same memory circuit. Also
shown connected to the control circuit 405 is display 408 and a
keyboard 410. Due to the small size of the device 200, the keyboard
410 is necessarily very restricted. It preferably has a key for
each letter of the alphabet, but can be limited to fewer keys even
than this. In a selected mode of operation of the device 200,
selected keys of the keyboard 410, e.g. keys 411 and 412,
correspond to selected messages in the message store 407.
[0020] Referring to the host server 205, there is an e-mail
database 430, forming part of the host server 205 and there are
computer terminals 431, 432 and 433 connected to the server 205 via
a local area network 435. The terminals 431 to 433 and the local
area network 435 are optional, but are included to assist in an
explanation of the invention.
[0021] The host server 205 has virtual client software 206 which
interacts with client software in the radio device 200. The virtual
client software includes an account table 450, in which account
numbers or identifiers in the e-mail server database 430 are
correlated with account numbers or identifiers in the public
network server 203. Also included in the virtual client software of
the host server 205 are a notification agent 455, a message portion
handling routine 460 and a command message receiver 465. In
operation, users can use the terminals 431 to 433 to generate
e-mail messages and send these e-mail messages to each other and to
other recipients outside the local area network 435. Where messages
are to be sent to other recipients, they can be sent by the server
205 to internet connection 470. A user of a terminal, e.g.,
terminal 431, can view a page which displays summary information of
all his incoming messages and a page summarizing all his outgoing
messages. Each of these pages shows the receiver (or sender) of the
message, the time and the subject header. This information is
presented to the terminal from the e-mail database 430. In the
database 430, there is a section allocated to each user. Sections
of the database 430 are identified by user account number. Thus,
for example, referring to the message of FIG. 3, each of Daddy
Bear, Mommy Bear and Baby Bear has an account in the database 430.
Each account is identified (in the example given) simply by the
account holder's name. These accounts can be referred to as e-mail
accounts. If a user of a terminal, e.g., terminal 431, wishes to
see a particular message in his account, he can select that message
and the server 205 will deliver the entire message, including the
entire header and the entire text and all attachments from the
database 430 to the terminal 431.
[0022] Referring now to the radio device 200, this device is able
to act in almost the same manner as a terminal 431, but with
certain differences in function and user interaction as described
below. Radio device 200 first establishes a virtual session with
server 205 in a manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,353 to
Eggleston, et al., issued on Jun. 23, 1998 and assigned to the
assignee of the present invention. That application is incorporated
herein by reference. In the course of establishing a virtual
session, device 200 sends a message directed at server 205
indicating the e-mail account in server database 430 to which
device 200 wishes to have access. In so doing, a correlation is
entered into account table 450 correlating the e-mail account
number or identifier-with the paging network address of the pager
200.
[0023] A process by which a virtual session is established between
the radio device 200 and host server 205 is illustrated in the flow
chart embodiment of FIG. 7. This process typically begins with a
user event, such as instantiation (forming) of a communications
object at the radio device 200 and sending a registration message
(steps 701-702). Alternatively, the infrastructure could initiate
the communications by sending a page or the like requesting the
radio device 200 to register (for example, when the radio device
200 has registered with the two way paging system 202 but not yet
requested registration with the host server 205). In any event,
once a registration message is received by the host server 205 in
step 703, the host server 205 preferably authenticates and
otherwise qualifies the radio device 205 in steps 704 and 705. Upon
successful authentication, the host server 205 instantiates a
communications session object (CSO) including client parameters
retrieved from an inactive client parameter store, as modified by
the user in his registration or subsequent messages (step 706).
These parameters include at a minimum client (e.g., radio device)
identifiers, but may also include additional preferences based on
the type of communications involved. Following instantiation at the
host server 205, a response message, e.g., a further registration
message, is sent to the radio device 200, and an acknowledgment
(ACK) returned to the host server 205; both radio device 200 and
host server 205 then retain the instantiated objects as fully
qualified, and start session timers (steps 707-709). At this point
a virtual session has been established between the radio device 200
and host server 205. If the registration is not successful, then
any instantiated object is deleted, with the radio device 200
returned to an inactive status.
[0024] The typical radio device 200 includes a data encoder/decoder
404 to accommodate the system communications protocol(s). The host
system server 205 includes some form of protocol translators or
formatters 462 . . . 464. The protocol translators serve to format
or code the messages as appropriate for transport between the host
system server 205 and radio device 200; these include e.g.,
appropriate protocol software that can be located at the host
system server 205, or any other convenient processor per design of
the given communication system.
[0025] By the way of explanation of paging network addresses, each
pager or other radio device 200 registered on the public radio
network 202 has an address and a corresponding account in a
database 420, associated with public network server 203. Account
table 450 maintains a table of correlations between e-mail account
numbers or identifiers in database 430 with public network account
numbers in database 420. In this manner, when a message is received
from a given radio device 200, server 205 receives the message with
an identification indicating the radio device from which it is
received and is able to correlate that radio device with the
appropriate e-mail account number. Similarly, when an e-mail is
addressed to a particular account number and needs to be sent to
the user of that account at his radio device 200, the appropriate
address of the radio device is identified in account table 450 and
the message is sent to the correct radio device.
[0026] Radio device 200 is able to generate a number of
pre-identified messages stored in message storage 407. Some of
these messages are commands. The commands that can be sent include
"OK," "Finish," and "Move."
[0027] In operation, message portion handling routine 460 sends to
the radio device 200 a selected list of headers of messages in the
in-box for the account in database 430 that corresponds to the
radio device 200. The headers are short, giving merely the sender
of a message (field 310 of FIG. 3) the date or time (field 311) and
the subject (field 312) or a portion of the subject field. Rules
are set up by the individual user in database 430 defining how many
and what form of header information the user wishes to receiver in
viewing his in-box. For example, the user can set up a rule which
provides that only the last 10 messages are shown or he can set up
a rule which provides that only messages received in the last 24
hours are shown. For each message, a predetermined limit is set for
the amount of text from the body of the message that is sent to the
radio device 200.
[0028] Preferably, the first few lines of text are all that is sent
upon receipt of the view command. In this manner, the network 202
is not tied up and overused by having to send the entire text 302
of the e-mail message. Similarly, the memory 406 of the device 200
(which is very limited) is not congested with lengthy e-mail
message text and with attachments. A limit of 300 characters is a
suitable limit.
[0029] If the user 200 needs more of the message, a further button
(or a repeat of the previous button) can be pressed, causing
another command (e.g., the command "move") to be sent to the server
205, causing the next few lines of text to be sent to the radio
device 200. In this way, a user can continue receiving further
portions of a message until he is satisfied that he has understood
enough of the message for his purposes. For example, a message may
require the setting up of a meeting and the user can page through
the message until he has received the time, place and date of the
meeting and the uses may not wish to review any more of the message
until he has returned to his office. When the user of the radio
device 200 returns to his office, he can use one of the terminals
431 to 433 to read the complete message, print it off and read any
attachments.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 5, a series of examples of screen
shots displayed on the display 408 of a radio device 200 are shown.
Each screen shot represents a mode of operation of the radio
device. Accordingly, there is a software routine in the control
circuit 405 of radio device 200 which corresponds to each of the
nine screen shots in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 could equally be presented as a
state diagram illustrating the transitions between these respective
software routines.
[0031] In FIG. 5, there is an opening screen 500, which is of a
highest level mode, which is presented to a user upon power-up of
the radio device 200. As a function of the process of powering-up
and presenting of the screen 500, the radio device 200 establishes
a virtual session with the public network server 203 of the public
radio network 202. Screen 500 shows five on screen buttons 501 to
505. These are labeled "in-box," "feed," "agent," "user" and
"exit." Preferably, the five on-screen buttons, 501 to 505
correspond to five hardware buttons on the keyboard 410, such as
buttons 411 and 412, etc. Alternatively, the display 408 may have a
digitizer, and a stylus can be used to select and activate
on-screen buttons. Each of buttons 501 to 504 represents a mode of
operation illustrated on the right of screen 500. These modes of
operation are message view mode 510, message feed mode 520, message
agent mode 530 and user preferences mode 540.
[0032] In the message view mode 510, the first screen presented is
an in-box screen 550. This screen has four on-screen buttons 551,
552, 553 and 554. These buttons correspond to the commands "view,"
"delete," "new" and "done." Screen 550 illustrates the contents of
the user's in-box as stored in server database 430 (FIG. 4). The
information is presented in the form of rows illustrating, for each
message, the sender, the date of receipt and a portion of the
subject field. By activating button 551 (using keypad 410 or using
a stylus) the process proceeds to screen 560. Screen 560 presents
the sender, date of receipt and subject of the message and also
presents a portion of the text of the message. The portion 561 of
the text is only a few lines of text. The size of the portion 561
is either predetermined (e.g., selected to fit within the display
408) or is selectable by the user defining a preference for the
length of the message portion. Other arrangements can, be devised
for limiting the size of the message portion 561, for example, the
message port can be terminated at a given character or set of
characters. As an example, the message can be terminated at the
occurrence of the first or second carriage return symbol.
[0033] Screen 560 has three on-screen buttons, 562, 563 and 564
correspond to the commands "done," "reply" and "more." Further
buttons (not shown) can be caused to appear corresponding to, the
commands "delete," "forward," and "reply."
[0034] Turning to message feed mode 520, activation of this mode by
activation of button 502 presents screen 570. This screen has
on-screen buttons 571 and 572 corresponding to the commands "OK,"
and "cancel." Screen 570 also has some mode select buttons 573.
[0035] Referring to message agent mode 530. Activation of this mode
presents message agent screen 580 having "continue" and "cancel"
buttons 581 and 582 and having preference selection buttons 583.
From screen 580, the process can proceed to screen 585 (agent
summary screen) having buttons 586 through 589 representing the
command "new," "edit," "delete," and "done."
[0036] From agent summary screen 585 the process can proceed to
agent action screen 590, which presents "finish" button 591 and
"cancel" button 592. There are various other preference buttons are
illustrated on the screen 590. Alternatively from screen 585, the
process can proceed to screen 595, having buttons 596 and 597
representing the commands "OK" and "cancel." Screen 595 also has
user preference buttons 598.
[0037] Finally, user preference mode 540 causes the presentation of
screen 610 having entry field 611, 612 and 613 and having command
buttons 614 and 615 for the commands "OK" and "cancel."
[0038] In operation, the application opens with screen 500. From
this screen the user can proceed to one of the four modes of
operation 510 to 540 using the buttons 501 to 504, respectively.
Alternately, by pressing button 505 "exit," the application quits
and returns to a default application unrelated to the function of
messaging. Upon selection of message feed mode 520, screen 570 is
presented in which the user can select whether he wishes all
messages or only messages routed by the user's agent or no messages
to be fed to the radio device 200.
[0039] Upon selecting one of the first two preferences and
activating button 571, a message is sent from the user device 200
to the server 205 instructing the server 205 to begin sending
(feeding) messages to the radio device 200. The message sent from
the radio device 200 to the server 205 indicates, according to
buttons 573, whether all messages in the in box are to be fed or
whether only those messages that are identified by an agent
(described below) are to be fed to the radio device 200. Upon
receipt of this message at command message receiver 465, server 205
commences sending through the gateway 204 and through the public
radio network 202, for each of the desired messages the header and
a portion of the text. Once sent, the messages can be viewed at the
radio device 200 as shown in screens 550 and 560.
[0040] Referring to mode 530, this mode is activated by pressing
503 and brings up screen 580 which allows the user of the radio
device 200 to define a set of rules (to be stored in database 430)
defining the messages or forms of messages or types of messages
that the user of the radio device 200 wishes to receive. Thus, for
example, selection buttons 583 can call for messages which contain
certain words or messages which omit certain words. Progressing
from screen 580, button 581 can be pressed closing the program to
proceed to screen 585, the agent summary screen. Screen 585
summarizes the messages that are to be sent from the server 205 to
the radio device 200. For example, messages can be selected
identified by sender or by subject key word or by urgency flag or
by body (text). By activating the button 586, the program proceeds
to screen 595 and a new key word can be entered. The field to be
searched is selected by preference buttons 598 and a key word is
entered in field 600. The key word entered in field 600 can cause a
search by the server 205 in the sender field, the subject field or
the body field, according to the selection made in section buttons
598.
[0041] By pressing edit button 587 in screen 585, agent action
screen 590 is presented, inviting the server 205 to send the entire
message or only the first predefined number of characters or only
the sender or only the sender and subject when the key words match.
By activating button 591, a message is sent to the command message
receiver 465 of the server 205 identifying the agent actions
defined by the user. These agent actions are stored as a rule in
database 430 and thereafter define the degree of filtering of
messages from the user's in box to the radio device 200.
[0042] By activating user preference mode 540 the user can enter
his name in field 611, his e-mail address in field 612 and his
e-mail alert in field 613. By pressing button 614, a message is
sent to the server 205 and received at the command message receiver
465. This message can entirely change the e-mail address of the
user of the radio device 200, causing an update in the account
table 450 showing a new correspondence between an e-mail address
and a pager address. This feature allows a user of the radio device
200 to permit a fellow user to enter an e-mail address and to
permit a different e-mail account to be viewed.
[0043] Summarizing FIG. 5, it has been described how four modes of
operation of a software program stored in controller 405 of radio
device 200 are available. The message view mode allows the user of
device 200 to view e-mail messages from the e-mail server 205.
Message feed mode 520 instructs the server 205 to begin
transmitting a user's messages from the e-mail server to the radio
device 200. The message agent mode 530 allows a user of the device
200 to remotely set up a set of filtering parameters or rules to be
stored in database 430 and to be associated with the user's e-mail
account. This set of rules or filtering parameters defines the
types of messages or aspects of messages that the user wishes to
view remotely. This feature has the great advantage of flexibility
in allowing the user to select messages to be presented at the
radio device 200. This feature is most useful in a device having a
very limited screen size and memory capacity, because
indiscriminate presentation of all messages to the radio device can
unnecessarily fill up the memory and fill up the screen, causing
irritation to the user.
[0044] Finally, user preferences mode 540 allows the user to
identify himself to the server 205 to identify which particular
e-mail account is to be viewed, independent of the address of the
radio device 200 in the public radio network 202.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 6, a flow diagram is shown describing the
operation of the radio device 200 in association with the host
server 205. Steps that take place at the radio device 200 are shown
on the left and steps that take place at the host server 205 are
shown on the right. Arrows between the left and right hand sides of
the diagram represent messages (including command messages)
exchanged between the radio device and the server. FIG. 6 is
presented by way of illustration of the process of starting the
feed of messages from the host server to the radio device, reading
of a portion of the message and requesting of more of the same
message. Flow diagrams similar to the diagram in FIG. 6 can readily
be created by one skilled in the art to illustrate the other
operations and interactions between the radio device and the server
described above with reference to FIG. 5.
[0046] Referring in detail to FIG. 6, the flow begins by
establishing a virtual session between the radio device 200 and the
host server 205. This establishment of a virtual session takes
place at steps 650 in the radio device and 651 in the host server.
Following commencement of a virtual session, and following
activation of on-screen key 502, a command to start feed is
generated. This command (feed command 653) is sent to the server
and received at the server in step 655. On receipt of this command,
the server sends header information in step 656 and this
information is received at the radio device in step 657.
[0047] Upon activation of the "view" button 551 in screen 550, a
message is selected (step 658) and displayed on the display of the
radio device. Flow proceeds to step 675. At step 675, if the user
requires more of the message, he presses on-screen button 564 and
flow proceeds from step 675 to step 680, causing a command 681 to
be generated and sent to the server requesting more of the message.
This command is received at step 682 and in step 684 a counter is
incremented to identify the next portion of the message. If, in
step 686, there is no more message to be sent, i.e., the counter
has reached the end of the message, an error command can be sent in
step 688, indicating that there is no more message to be sent and
the process ends at 690. On the other hand, if step 686 identifies
that there is more message to be sent, flow proceeds to step 664
and an outbound paging message is formatted to deliver the next
portion of the body of the message and the process continues.
[0048] The above description has been given by way of example only
and modifications of detail can be made by one of ordinary skill in
the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *