Importance

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Abstract

A communications receiver such as a radiopager derives information which is necessary for operation thereof from a discardable read-only data card which is inserted therein. Such information may include a radio identity code (RIS) for relating the receiver to a particular user, and prepaid credit units which are cancelled by the receiver based on the number of received messages or time intervals of operation thereof. The information may also include a particular frequency and data rate for adapting the receiver to operate on a paging system used in a particular country. Once the information on the data card has been read-out and stored in a non-volatile store, the card can be removed and either discarded or recharged with new credit units upon payment of a fee at an authorized station. The receiver may be adapted for use in a different country simply by inserting a data card relating to that country, paying for usage of the receiver as the user goes from country to country.

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First Claim