Paging communication system

Abstract

A paging communication system is configured so that a plurality of receivers are called by group in response to a paging signal transmitted from a base station. The base station is provided with first circuitry comprising a plurality of timers for counting the number of transmissions to each receiver, and second circuitry operative to transmit a first kind of data indicating that the information code assigned to each of the particular receivers is masked and a second kind of data for restarting the ordinary receiving process with respect to the masked information code. Each receiver is provided with a decoder circuit operative in response to the first kind of data to inhibit the ordinary receiving process with respect to the masked code and operative in response to the second kind of data to restart the ordinary receiving process. Thus, the communication system will inhibit the information supply only to receivers which are not current in their contract payments and restart the information supply after payment of the contract fee. Further, this system can determine the appropriate charges based upon the number of calls to each individual calling number as counted by the first circuitry provided in the base station.