Method and apparatus for paging alternate users

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein if an acknowledgment is not received from said alternate user at step (c) within a predetermined period of time, steps (a) through (d) are repeated with a next selected alternate user from said list of alternate users until a positive acknowledgment is received.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein said list has a first alternate user and a last alternate user, and if said last alternate user is sent an alternate paging request and a positive acknowledgment has not been received, said next selected alternate user becomes said first alternate user.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein said originating user is a monitoring system for an automated system.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: logging said initial paging request at said paging server as successfully delivered; and notifying said originating user of said positive acknowledgment.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, wherein said list is arranged in a first order, and further comprising the step of arranging said list in a second order once a positive acknowledgment is received.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6, wherein the step of arranging comprises the steps of: determining which of said alternate users provided acknowledgments; and arranging said list in said second order in accordance with said determination.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7, wherein said step of arranging said list in said second order in accordance with said determination comprises the steps of: ordering alternate users providing negative acknowledgments first; ordering alternate users providing positive acknowledgments second; and ordering all other alternate users third.

Claim 10

A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps for paging alternate users, said steps comprising: receiving an initial paging request at a paging server from an originating user; sending said initial paging request to a target user by said paging server; receiving an acknowledgment to said initial paging request at said paging server from said target user; and determining whether said received acknowledgment is positive, and if not: (a) selecting an alternate user from a list of alternate users by said paging server; (b) sending an alternate paging request to said selected alternate user; (c) receiving an acknowledgment from said selected alternate user; and (d) determining whether said acknowledgment is positive, and if not, repeating steps (a) through (d) with a next selected alternate user from said list of alternate users until a positive acknowledgment is received.

Claim 11

A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps for paging alternate users, said steps comprising: receiving an initial paging request at a paging server from an originating user; sending said initial paging request to a target user by said paging server; receiving an acknowledgment to said initial paging request at said paging server from said target user; and determining whether said received acknowledgment is positive, and if not: (a) selecting an alternate user from a list of alternate users by said paging server; (b) sending an alternate paging request to said selected alternate user; (c) receiving an acknowledgment from said selected alternate user; and (d) determining whether said acknowledgment is positive, and if not, repeating steps (a) through (d) with a next selected alternate user from said list of alternate users until a positive acknowledgment is received.

Claim 12

The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein said originating user is a monitoring system for an automated system.

Claim 13

The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein if an acknowledgment is not received from said alternate user at step (c) within a predetermined period of time, steps (a) through (d) are repeated with a next selected alternate user from said list of alternate users until a positive acknowledgment is received.

Claim 14

The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein said list has a first alternate user and a last alternate user, and if said last alternate user is sent an alternate paging request and a positive acknowledgment has not been received, said next selected alternate user becomes said first alternate user.

Claim 15

The computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: logging said initial paging request at said paging server as successfully delivered; and notifying said originating user of said positive acknowledgment.

Claim 16

The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein said list is arranged in a first order, and further comprising the step of arranging said list in a second order once a positive acknowledgment is received.

Claim 17

The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the step of arranging comprises the steps of: determining which of said alternate users provided acknowledgments; and arranging said list in said second order in accordance with said determination.

Claim 18

The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said step of arranging said list in said second order in accordance with said determination comprises the steps of: ordering alternate users providing negative acknowledgments first; ordering alternate users providing positive acknowledgments second; and ordering all other alternate users third.