Multi-mode paging system

Abstract

A system and method of selectively paging an individual through one of a plurality of paging mechanisms. An indication of a paging mechanism for each individual to be paged is stored in a memory device. When an input is received from a user to page the individual, a control processor retrieves the indication of a paging mechanism for the individual to be paged and determines which of the plurality of paging mechanisms is to be utilized to page the individual. The individual may be selectively paged through an on-premises paging system, a wide area paging system, or a cellular telephone.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A multi-mode paging system that selectively pages an individual through either an on-premises pager or a wide area pager, said system comprising: 
 an on-premises radio frequency (RF) transmitter for paging the on-premises pager;    means for dialing out a telephone call to the wide area pager; and    a control processor that selects whether to page the individual on the on-premises pager or the wide area pager.    
     
     
         2 . A multi-mode paging system that selectively pages an individual through either an on-premises pager or a cellular telephone, said system comprising: 
 an on-premises radio frequency (RF) transmitter for paging the on-premises pager;    means for dialing out a telephone call to the cellular telephone; and    a control processor that selects whether to page the individual on the on-premises pager or the cellular telephone.    
     
     
         3 . A multi-mode paging system that selectively pages an individual through one of a plurality of paging mechanisms, said system comprising: 
 a first paging mechanism comprising an on-premises radio frequency (RF) transmitter for paging on-premises pagers;    a second paging mechanism comprising means for dialing out a telephone call to wide area pagers and cellular telephones; and    a control processor that selects an appropriate paging mechanism for each individual to be paged.    
     
     
         4 . The multi-mode paging system of  claim 3  further comprising a memory device in which individuals to be paged are associated with an on-premises pager number, a wide area pager telephone number, or a cellular telephone number.  
     
     
         5 . The multi-mode paging system of  claim 4  further comprising a keypad for a user to enter on-premises pager numbers, wide area pager telephone numbers, and cellular telephone numbers for individuals to be paged.  
     
     
         6 . The multi-mode paging system of  claim 3  further comprising a wireless radio interface that connects the control processor to the RF transmitter.  
     
     
         7 . The multi-mode paging system of  claim 3  wherein the RF transmitter and the control processor are connected to a local area network (LAN), and the system further comprises a LAN interface that connects the control processor to the LAN.  
     
     
         8 . The multi-mode paging system of  claim 3  wherein the means for dialing out a telephone call includes: 
 an auto-dialer;  
 a modem; and  
 an interface to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN).  
 
     
     
         9 . The multi-mode paging system of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 a seating management system; and  
 an RS232 interface that connects the control processor to the seating management system.  
 
     
     
         10 . The multi-mode paging system of  claim 9  wherein the RS232 interface also connects the control processor to the RF transmitter.  
     
     
         11 . The multi-mode paging system of  claim 3  wherein the control processor is remotely located from the premises, and the system includes means for communicating data between the premises and the processor.  
     
     
         12 . A method of selectively paging an individual through one of a plurality of paging mechanisms, said method comprising the steps of: 
 determining by a control processor, which of the plurality of paging mechanisms is to be utilized to page the individual; and    paging the individual utilizing the determined paging mechanism.    
     
     
         13 . The method of selectively paging an individual through one of a plurality of paging mechanisms of  claim 12  wherein the step of determining which of the plurality of paging mechanisms is to be utilized to page the individual includes determining by the control processor, whether the individual is to be paged through an on-premises paging system or a wide area paging system.  
     
     
         14 . The method of selectively paging an individual through one of a plurality of paging mechanisms of  claim 13  wherein the step of determining which of the plurality of paging mechanisms is to be utilized to page the individual also includes determining by the control processor, whether the individual is to be paged through an on-premises paging system or a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         15 . The method of selectively paging an individual through one of a plurality of paging mechanisms of  claim 14  wherein the step of determining which of the plurality of paging mechanisms is to be utilized to page the individual also includes determining by the control processor, whether the individual is to be paged through an on-premises paging system, a wide area paging system, or a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         16 . A method of selectively paging an individual through one of a plurality of paging mechanisms, said method comprising the steps of: 
 storing in a memory device, an indication of a paging mechanism for each individual to be paged;    receiving an input from a user to page the individual;    retrieving, by a control processor, the indication of a paging mechanism for the individual to be paged;    determining by the control processor, which of the plurality of paging mechanisms is to be utilized to page the individual;    paging the individual through an on-premises paging system upon determining that the on-premises paging system is to be utilized to page the individual;    paging the individual through a wide area paging system upon determining that the wide area paging system is to be utilized to page the individual; and    paging the individual through a cellular telephone upon determining that the cellular telephone is to be utilized to page the individual.