Paging system

Abstract

A paging system that allows a paging device to page a pager via a signaling channel of a communication network to which the pager is coupled. An alerting server that is part of the paging system receives a paging request from the paging device and converts the paging request to a paging message that is then transmitted over the signaling channel to the pager device. In response to the paging message, the pager device transmits a contact message indicating reception of the paging message and starts a timer for a defined time period during which the pager device is to transmit an acknowledgment message over the signaling channel to the alerting server which informs the paging device that the page has been properly received.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A pager device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor;   transmit and receive circuitry coupled to and controlled by the processor to transmit automatically a contact message in response to a received paging message and transmit an acknowledgement message during a defined period of time wherein said acknowledgement message is one of a text message, a text message converted from a voice message, and a voice message P+k seconds in length where P and k are integers equal to 2 or greater.   
     
     
         26 . The pager device of  claim 25  wherein after transmitting the contact message, the pager device sets a timer to run for the defined period of time during which the acknowledgement message is to be transmitted. 
     
     
         27 . The pager device of  claim 25  wherein the contact message is a message stored in the memory used to indicate that a paging message was received. 
     
     
         28 . The pager device of  claim 25  further comprising a keypad coupled to the processor via an I/O interface wherein said keypad is operable to cause the device to transmit the acknowledgement message. 
     
     
         29 . The pager device of  claim 25  further comprising a switch positioned on the surface, said switch being operable to cause the device to transmit the acknowledgement message. 
     
     
         30 . The pager device of  claim 25  further comprising a microphone coupled to the processor via an I/O interface where in response to receiving the paging message said microphone is operable for receiving a voice message wherein said voice message is transmitted over a communication channel. 
     
     
         31 . The pager device of  claim 30  where the communication channel is a signaling channel. 
     
     
         32 . The pager device of  claim 25  further comprising a beeper/vibrator coupled to the processor via an I/O interface where in response to receiving a paging message the processor causes the beeper/vibrator to generate a beeping sound or vibrate to indicate a paging message has been received. 
     
     
         33 . The pager device of  claim 25  further comprising a display coupled to the processor to display at least a portion of a paging message received by the device as a result of the transmission of the acknowledgement message. 
     
     
         34 . The pager device of  claim 33  wherein the displayed portion of the received paging message is a telephone number of a paging device. 
     
     
         35 . A method performed by a pager device, the method comprising:
 setting a timer for a defined time period upon receiving a paging message; and   transmitting an acknowledgement message during the defined period of time wherein said acknowledgement message is one of a text message, a text message converted from a voice message by the device, and a voice message P+k seconds in length where P and k are integers equal to 2 or greater.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  where the voice message is recorded by the pager device. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  where values for P and k are received by the pager over a signaling channel. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  where the values of P and k are transmitted over a signaling channel by a Server in communication with the pager device over a signaling channel of a communication system to which the Server and the pager device belong. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35  where the acknowledgement message results from operation of user accessible components of the pager device.