Personal information management system with paging link

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for communicating data with portable data units, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of network nodes interconnected by a network communication link, each of the network nodes having a memory associated therewith for storing information and a transmitter associated therewith for transmitting information over a wireless communication link within a predetermined RF range about the associated network node;

providing a receiver at each of the network nodes for receiving over the wireless communication link information from a sending one of the personal data units within the RF range of the associated network node, and storing the received information in the memory of the associated one of the network nodes;

receiving predetermined recipient information for a predetermined recipient portable data unit at one of the network nodes;

locating the one of the network nodes in which transmit range the predetermined recipient portable data unit is disposed, the step of locating comprising the steps of:

storing predetermined recipient information at one of the network nodes in the associated memory,

generating a paging message having associated therewith routing information as to which of the network nodes has the predetermined recipient information stored thereat,

transmitting the paging message over a paging channel that has an RF range substantially greater than the transmit range of each of the network nodes,

receiving the paging message over the paging channel at the recipient portable data unit,

generating a Ready-to-Receive message at the recipient portable data unit, the Ready-to-Receive message having associated therewith routing information extracted from the paging message defining the one of the network nodes having the predetermined recipient information stored thereat,

transmitting the Ready-to-Receive message over the wireless communication link to the one of the network nodes in whose RF range the recipient portable data trait is disposed, and

the one of the network nodes receiving the Ready-to-Receive message comprising the located the of said network nodes and transmitting a Request-to-Send message to the one of the network nodes at which the predetermined recipient information is stored, indicating that the transmitting network node is the located one of the network nodes;

transferring the predetermined recipient information to the located one of the network nodes for storage in the associated memory thereof, and

transferring the stored predetermined recipient information to the predetermined recipient portable data unit from the transmitter associated with the located one of the network nodes over the associated wireless communication link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a plurality of network nodes comprises providing a plurality of local area networks at each of the network nodes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined recipient information is received from a sending one of the personal data units and is comprised of the predetermined information that is to be sent to the recipient portable data unit and identification information associated with the recipient portable data unit and comprising the steps of:

generating the predetermined recipient information in association with identification information of the recipient portable data unit as an information packet;

transmitting the information packet over the wireless communication link to the receiver associated with the one of the network nodes in whose RF range the sending portable data unit is disposed;

storing the predetermined recipient information received from the sending portable data unit at the receiving network node; and

wherein the step of transferring the predetermined recipient information to the recipient portable data unit comprises transferring the predetermined recipient information from the receiving network node to the located one of the network nodes for storage therein and transferring the predetermined recipient information from the located one of the network nodes to the recipient portable data unit.

4. A method for transferring data to portable data units each having a unique address, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of network nodes, each network node serving as a home station for predetermined ones of the portable data units;

storing in a memory at each of the network nodes a lookup table defining the association between the unique address of each of the portable data units and routing information therefor to the one of the network nodes serving as the home station and storing predetermined recipient information in the associated memory;

interconnecting the network nodes through a network communication link:,

transferring the predetermined recipient information designated for a predetermined recipient portable data unit to the one of the network nodes serving as the home station for the recipient portable data unit and storing the recipient information in the associated memory;

providing at each of the network nodes a transmit/receive circuit for transmitting and receiving data and messages over a wireless communication link having a predetermined RF range about the associated network node, the data and messages transmitted and received between ones of the portable data units within said RF range and the associated transmit/receive circuit;

transmitting a Request-for-Data Transfer for recipient portable data unit over the RF communication link of the home station network node at which the recipient data is stored;

transmitting the stored recipient information to the recipient portable data unit in response to an acknowledgment signal being received from the recipient portable data unit indicating that the recipient portable data unit is within the RF range associated with the home station network node;

locating the one of the network nodes in whose RF range the recipient portable data unit is disposed when the acknowledgment signal is not received by the home station network node after transmitting the Request-for-Data Transfer message; the step of locating comprising the steps of:

generating a paging message having associated therewith routing information of the home station network node;

transmitting the paging message over a paging channel that has an RF range substantially greater than the transmit range of each of the network nodes,

receiving the paging message over the paging channel at the recipient portable data unit;

generating a Ready-to-Receive message at the recipient portable data unit, the Ready-to-Receive message having associated therewith the home station network node routing information extracted from the paging message,

transmitting the Ready-to-Receive message over the wireless communication link to the one of the network nodes in whose RF range the recipient portable data unit is disposed, and

the one of the network nodes receiving the Ready-to-Receive message comprising the located one of said network nodes and transmitting a Request-to-Send message to the home station network node indicating that the transmitting network node is the located one of the network nodes;

transferring the stored recipient information to the located one of the network nodes in which associated RF range the portable data unit is disposed;

transmitting a Request-for-Data Transfer message for reception by the recipient portable data unit from the located one of the network nodes in which associated RF range the portable data unit is disposed; and

transmitting the stored recipient data to the recipient portable data unit after receiving an acknowledgment signal therefrom.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the predetermined recipient information is generated by a sending one of the portable data units and comprising the steps of:

generating at one of the portable data units the recipient data;

generating a Request-to-Send message at the generating one of the portable data units;

transmitting the Request-to-Send message over the RF wireless communication link of the one of the network nodes in whose RF range the generating one of the portable data units is disposed for receipt by the associated network node;

generating and transmitting an acknowledgment signal back to the generating one of the portable data units from the receiving one of the network nodes over the communication link after receipt of the Request-to-Send message;

transmitting the generated recipient information and the unique address of the recipient portable data unit from the generating one of the portable data units to the receiving network node and storing the generated recipient data thereat; and

transferring over the network communication link the recipient information received from the generating one of the portable data units and stored at the receiving network node to the home station network node in accordance with routing information stored in the lookup table associated with the receiving network node to the recipient portable data unit in response to an acknowledgement that the recipient portable data unit is within the RF range of the home station network node, and to the located one of the network nodes and then over the wireless communication link associated with the located one of the network nodes when no acknowledgement response is received by the home station network node.

6. A data communications system for communicating data with portable data units, comprising:

a plurality of network nodes interconnected by a network communication link each of said network nodes having a memory associated therewith for storing information and a transmitter associated therewith for transmitting information over a wireless communication link within a predetermined RF range about the one of said network nodes;

a receiver disposed at each of said network nodes for receiving over said wireless communication link information from a sending one of the personal data units within the RF range of the associated network node, the receiving one of said network nodes operable to store the received information in said associated memory;

a location device for locating the one of said network nodes in which transmit RF range a predetermined recipient portable data unit is disposed, said location device comprising:

a storage device for storing predetermined recipient information at one of said network nodes in said memory associated with said one of said network nodes,

a paging system for generating a paging message having associated therewith routing information associated with the one of said network nodes having the predetermined recipient information stored thereat,

a paging transmitter for transmitting said paging message over a paging channel that has an RF range substantially greater than the transmit range of each of said network nodes,

said recipient portable data unit having a receiver associated therewith for receiving said paging message over said paging channel,

a processor disposed at said recipient portable data unit for generating a Ready-to-Receive message, said Ready-to-Receive message having associated therewith routing information extracted from said paging message defining the one of said network nodes having said predetermined recipient information stored thereat,

a transmitter disposed at said recipient portable unit for transmitting said Ready-to-Receive message over said wireless communication link to the one of said network nodes in whose RF range said recipient portable data unit is disposed, and

a network communication device disposed at each of said network nodes, said network communication device disposed at said network node receiving said Ready-to-Receive message from said recipient portable data unit operable to transmit a Request-to-Send message over said network communication link to the one of said network nodes at which said predetermined recipient information is stored, indicating that the transmitting one of said network nodes is the located one of said network nodes;

a first transfer device for transmitting the predetermined recipient information to the located one of said network nodes for store in said associated memory; and

a second transfer device for transferring said stored recipient information the located one of said network nodes for store in said associated memory; and

a second transfer device for transferring said stored recipient information stored in the located one of said network nodes to the said predetermined recipient portable data unit from said transmitter associated with said located one of said network nodes over said associated wireless communication link.

7. The communicating link of claim 6, wherein said network nodes comprise a local area network.

8. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined recipient information is received from a sending one of personal data units and is comprised of said predetermined information that is to be sent to said recipient portable data unit and identification information associated with said recipient portable data unit, and further comprising:

a data generation device for generating said predetermined recipient information in association with identification information of said recipient portable data unit as an information packet, said generating device disposed at the sending one of the personal data units;

a portable data unit transmitter disposed at the sending one of the portable data units, said portable data unit transmitter for transmitting said information packet over said wireless communication link to said receiver associated with the one of said network nodes in whose RF range said sending potable data unit is disposed;

said receiving network node operable to store said predetermined recipient information received from the sending one of the portable data units,

9. A communication system for transferring data to portable data units each having a unique address, comprising:

a plurality of network nodes, each of said network nodes serving as a home station network node for predetermined ones of the portable data units;

a memory associated with each of said network nodes and having stored therein a lookup table defining the association between the unique address of each of the portable data units and the routing information therefor to the one of the network nodes serving as a home station network node, said memory operable to store the predetermined recipient information;

a network communication link for interconnecting said network nodes;

a first transfer device for transmitting said stored recipient data designated for a recipient one of the portable data units to the one of said network nodes serving as said home station network node for said recipient portable data unit, said transmitted recipient data stored in the associated memory of said home station network node;

a transmit/receive circuit disposed at each of said network nodes for transmitting and receiving data messages over a wireless communication link having a predetermined RF range about said associated network node, the data and messages transmitted and received between ones of the portable data units within said RF range and the associated transmit/receive circuit;

said transmit/receive circuit disposed at each of said network nodes operable to transmit a Request-for-Data Transfer message for reception by said recipient portable data unit over said wireless communication link of said home station network node at which said recipient data is stored;

said transmit/receive circuit operable to transmit said stored recipient information to said recipient portable data unit after an acknowledgment signal is received from said recipient portable data unit indicating that said recipient portable data unit is within the range associated with said home station network node;

a location device for locating the one of said network nodes in whose RF range said recipient portable data unit is disposed, said location device operable if an acknowledgment signal is not received by said transmit/receive circuit associated with said home station network node after transmitting said Request-for-Data Transfer message, said location device comprising:

a paging system for generating a paging message having associated therewith routing information of the home station network node;

a paging transmitter for transmitting said paging message over a paging channel that has an RF range substantially greater than the transmit range of each of said network nodes,

a receiver disposed at said recipient portable data unit for receiving the paging message over the paging channel,

a processor disposed at said recipient portable data unit for generating a Ready-to-Receive message, said Ready-to-Receive message having associated therewith the home station network node routing information extracted from said paging message,

a transmitter disposed at said recipient portable data unit for transmitting said Ready-to-receive message over said wireless communication link associated with the one of said network nodes in whose RF range said recipient portable data unit is disposed, and

the one of the network nodes receiving the Ready-to-Receive message comprising the located one of said network nodes and transmitting a Request-to-Send message to the home station network node indicating that the transmitting network node is the located one of the network nodes;

said location device operable to transfer said stored recipient data from said home station network node to the one of said network nodes in which associated RF range said recipient portable data unit is disposed; and

said located one of said network nodes operable to transmit said Request-for-Data Transfer message for reception by said recipient portable data unit over said Wireless communication link of said located one of said network nodes at which said recipient data is stored and then transmit said stored data to said recipient portable data unit after an acknowledgment signal is received from said recipient portable data unit.

10. The communication system of claim 9 wherein at least one of the portable data units can generate the predetermined recipient information and includes:

a processor for generating the predetermined recipient data and a unique address of said recipient portable data units;

a transmitter for transmitting data over the one of said wireless communication links in which the at least one of the potable data units is disposed, said processor operable to generate a Request-to-Send Data message for transmission over said wireless communication link of the one of said network nodes in whose RF range the at least one of the portable data units is disposed, said Request-to-Send message received by the associated one of said network nodes;

a receiver for receiving data and an acknowledgment signal back from the one of said network nodes in whose RF range the at least one of the portable data units is disposed, said acknowledgment signal generated by the one of said network nodes in whose RF range the at least one of the portable data units is disposed after receipt by said network node of said Request-to-Send message; and

said processor operable to control said transmitter and transmit said generated recipient information and the unique address of said recipient portable data unit from the at least one of the portable data units to the receiving one of said network node in whose RF range the at least one of the portable data units is disposed, the generated recipient data stored in the memory of said receiving network node.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains in general to a communication link for transfer of distributed information and, more particularly, a distributed message system utilizing a paging link to locate a remote receiver and initiate a data transfer operation thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Transfer of information from one location to another has conventionally taken different forms, such as transfer by voice through voice mail systems, transfer of text through facsimile systems and transfer of data through modem links. Of these, all have a common goal of transferring information from one location to another in as expedient a manner as possible. However, each of these systems has its limitations. For example, voice mail systems require a telephone link between a sender and a central mailbox location. The voice information is then stored as a voice message at the central location or mailbox, and then the recipient must call in at a later time to receive his message. With respect to facsimile locations, a phone system is again required with the message sent to a central location, i.e., the recipient's FAX machine. With respect to modems, the recipient must be at a known location and have a computer configured to receive a file which is downloaded from the sender's PC through the telephone line. Each of these systems requires that a fixed location be provided for the recipient information, thus requiring the recipient to go to that fixed location to obtain the information. Of course, cellular phone systems allow voice to be transferred in a portable manner, but this is a real-time system. In some instances, facsimile machines are associated with a cellular telephone such that the recipient can carry the FAX machine and cellular telephone in a briefcase.

One method for transferring information to individuals in an immediate manner is through use of paging systems. Paging systems allow short messages to be transmitted over paging frequencies to portable receivers which are carried on the person of the recipient. Therefore, if a message is transmitted to a recipient, the sender is reasonably assured that the message has arrived at the recipient's person. However, paging systems typically do not facilitate transfer of large text messages, graphics or the such. This is due to the fact that large amounts of information transmitted over paging systems significantly reduce throughput with messages queued up at a central station and then transmitted in a simulcast, broadcast manner to the entire paging system in a predetermined sequence. This is a serial broadcast communication system and, as such, a long message merely delays transmission of the remainder of the messages.

One of the disadvantages of transferring data over paging systems is that a single frequency is typically utilized for paging and the data is typically transferred from a central point to all of the recipient pagers at a single time. Even if the pagers can be prompted by the paging signal, it is necessary to output the information to the recipient pagers in an orderly manner. This, in and of itself, causes throughput problems due to the centralization and large spatial area broadcasting of the data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention disclosed and claimed herein comprises a method and apparatus for communicating data with portable data units. A plurality of network nodes are provided which are interconnected through a common communication link. Each of the network nodes has associated therewith a transmit/receive circuit for transmitting and receiving data over a communication link with portable data units. The transmit/receive circuit has a predetermined RF range about the associated one of the network nodes. The network node at which a recipient one of the portable data units is disposed is first located. Predetermined recipient data is then transferred to the located one of the network nodes and stored thereat. A request to transfer data is transmitted to the recipient portable data unit and, upon receiving an acknowledgement from the portable data unit, the data is then transferred thereto.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the portable data units has associated therewith one of the network nodes as a home station. The recipient data is first transferred to the home station network node and then the Request-to-Transfer message is transmitted to the recipient portable data unit in an attempt to transmit the stored recipient data. If an acknowledgement signal is not received from the recipient portable data unit at the home station network node, an attempt is then made to determine at which of the network nodes the portable data unit is located.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the portable data unit is only located in the event that an acknowledgement signal is not received. To locate the recipient portable data unit, a paging message is generated defining the one of the network nodes at which the recipient data is stored, and a unique identification number associated with the recipient PDU. This paging message is transmitted out over a paging channel having an RF range that is substantially greater than the RF range associated with any of the network nodes. Upon receipt of the paging message, the recipient PDU then generates a Ready-to-Receive message having the location of the stored data encoded therein. This message is transmitted to the one of the network nodes in whose RF range the recipient PDU is disposed. The receiving network node transmits a Request-for-Data message to the home station network node and the data is then transferred to the receiving network node from the home station network node for storage thereat. The receiving network node then effects a transfer of the data to the recipient PDU.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an overall block diagram of the overall personal information system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified block diagram of the personal data unit;

FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified block diagram of the distributed data station;

FIG. 4 illustrates a detail of the LAN;

FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of the personal information message system wherein information is downloaded on a default path;

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagrammatic view of an office cell utilized in conjunction with the personal data unit;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cell layout for the coverage area for multiple paging sites;

FIG. 8 illustrates the associated paging system;

FIG. 9 illustrates a detailed logic diagram of the central office;

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of the Rx/Tx portion of the PDU;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of alternate data transfer techniques that can be provided for;

FIG. 12 illustrates an additional embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram of the PIBS;

FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart depicting the operation at the LAN;

FIG. 15 illustrates a flowchart depicting the operation for the transfer sequence;

FIG. 16 illustrates a flowchart depicting the locate operation at the LAN;

FIG. 17 illustrates a flowchart depicting the location operation at the PDU; and

FIG. 18 illustrates a flowchart depicting the operation at the LAN when the Request to Receive message has been received;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a system block diagram of the personal information system of the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of Personal Data Units (PDUs) 10 are provided which can be disposed at a plurality of locations and typically are portable and maintained on or near the person of the user. Each of the PDUs 10 is operable to store data and display information and can be in the form of a Notebook Personal Computer (NBPC) or a Pen System (PS). The PS is generally a computer that allows cursive writing to be stored as an image or converted to alpha numeric text, called OCR, optical character recognition, and transmitted over a wireless link.

Each of the PDUs 10 have associated therewith a paging receiver 12, which is associated with a paging receiver antenna 14. Additionally, each of the PDUs 10 has associated therewith a Local Area Network (LAN), Receive/Transmit (Rx/Tx) adapter 16, which interfaces with an antenna 18. Each of the antennas 14 and associated receivers 12 is operable to interface with the paging system, whereas each of the antennas 18 and associated Rx/Tx 16 are operable to interface with a Local Area Network through an RF adapter to the LAN.

On the paging side, a plurality of paging sites are provided which overlap in a conventional manner, each region or area having located at substantially the center thereof a paging tower or "stick" 20. Each of the sticks 20 has associated therewith a satellite receiver 22 which is operable to interface with a satellite 26 and receive signals therefrom, and also includes a paging transmitter 24, which is operable to transmit paging messages to the antennas 14 associated with each of the PDUs 10 within the transmission region. Again, this is a conventional satellite paging system. The satellite 26 is operable to receive signals from an uplink station 28, which is connected to an uplink satellite antenna 30. The uplink 28 receives information from a central paging station 32, which is connected to a Public Switch Telephone Network/Public Data Network (PSTN/PDN).

Antenna 18 and Rx/Tx 16 provide a bi-directional communication link with one of a plurality of LANs 38. Each of the LANs 38 has associated therewith a processor or Personal Computer (PC) 40 that is operable to execute instructions and interface with a wireless LAN adapter Rx/Tx device 42. Each of the Rx/Tx devices 42 associated with the wireless LAN adapter has associated therewith an antenna 44, the antenna 44 operable to transmit and receive information over the communication link with the Rx/Tx 16 of the PDUs 10 when the PDUs 10 are within the transmission range of the specific Rx/Tx device 42. Each of the LANs 38 in turn are connected to the PSTN/PDN. (The PC can also be a wireless LAN adapter card that is inserted into the LAN Server.)

In operation, information can be transmitted to each of the PDUs 10 over the communication link between antennas 44 and antenna 18 for the associated one of the LANs 38. This information can be originated at one of the PDUs 10 for delivery to another of the PDUs 10, or it can be originated at a Source Personal Computer (PC) 48, which is connected through a modem to the PSTN/PDN 34 or one of the LAN clients. Each of the PDUs 10 has a unique ID or address on the system and is associated with one of the LANs 38, since the associated LAN 38 will define the expected region of a given one of the PDUs 10. However, each of the PDUs 10 is portable and can therefore be moved from one region associated with one of the LANs 38 to another region associated with another of the LANs 38. As will be described hereinbelow, the transmission range of each of the antennas 40 and associated wireless LAN adapters does not overlap. They generally define a specific locale such as a building or a given site.

In order to transmit a message to one of the PDUs 10, each of the LANs 38 has stored therein a lookup table. This lookup table contains the addresses of all of the PDUs 10 in the system and the associated one of the LANs 38. Alternately, each LAN 38 has a table of all routing information and need only receive the address from the PDU 10.

If a message were originated at the Source PC 48, the Source PC 48 would have associated therewith a lookup table similar to the ones in the LANs 38 in order to determine which of the LANs 38 was the "homebase" of the recipient PDU 10. Alternately, the source PC will contact one of the LANs 38 and obtain "homebase" information. The data or information to be forwarded to the PDU 10 would then be assembled with a header or routing information that defines the address or ID of the recipient PDU 10 and the method of delivery, i.e., whether the message is to be delivered immediately or at a later time, and possibly path over which the data or message is to be delivered. This information is then transmitted to the homebase LAN 38 and stored in its database. The LAN 38 or the homebase LAN 38 then attempts to locate the PDU within its range by sending out a polling request to the recipient PDU 10 in the form of a Ready-to-Transmit message. Of course, all of the PDUs 10 within the transmission range of the associated antenna 44 and Rx/Tx device 42 will receive the information. However, only the one of the PDUs 10 recognizing the transmitted address as the associated unique address or ID will respond with an acknowledgement signal in the form of a Ready-to-Receive message. Once the LAN 38 has received the acknowledgement signal, the data is then transmitted thereto from the antenna 44 to the antenna 18.

If a LAN 38 does not receive an acknowledgement signal from the recipient PDU 10 in response to the poll the LAN 38 will then assemble a message for transmission to the PSTN/PDN 34 and subsequently to the central station 32 for retransmission as a paging message over the paging satellite 26. This message contains the address of the recipient PDU 10 and, in addition, the location of the data and the proposed method of delivery. The message will then be assembled and transmitted to the satellite 26 and then transmitted to each of the plurality of sticks 20 in the paging network. Each of the sticks 20 then formats and transmits this paging message out from the paging antenna 24 to all of the PDUs 10 within their transmission range at the specified time and frequency of the message passes Forward Error Control (FEC). Faulty data will not be transmitted, and if that base station has a return link to the central station, it can send back an ARQ. Then, the CO will repeat this process up to a defined number of retries. The PDU 10 will always receive the strongest signal, which is the reason that all of the sticks 20 must transmit at substantially the same time. Once the recipient PDU 10 recognizes its unique address, it then generates an acknowledgement message for transmission to the closest Rx/Tx device 42 and associated LAN 38. If this is not the homebase LAN, the receiving LAN 38 will then request the data from the homebase LAN 38, store the data in its data memory and then effect a data transfer to a recipient PDU 10.

In addition to utilizing the satellite link, a number of hierarchical priorities can be determined. For example, an individual may have three separate messages delivery options by which to transmit the information to the recipient. For example, each of the lookup tables could define that the information be sent over the homebase LAN 38 initially, if present otherwise, followed by forwarding to another LAN 38 and finally forwarded to another location or phone associated with a PSTN/PDN 34 through a system such as a modified CT1 phone. If all of these are unsuccessful, a fourth alternative can be utilized which allows the system to broadcast the data out over another frequency or channel without the requirement to send an acknowledgement signal back to the sending device. Each of these systems will be described hereinbelow.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a simplified block diagram of the PDU 10. Each of the PDUs 10 has a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 52 dispose