Public service message broadcasting system and method

• US 20050261012A1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Envision IT LLC
• Original Assignee: Envision IT LLC
• Inventors: Weiser, Douglas "Bud"
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

The public service message location broadcast system and method provides for broadcasting a message to communication receiving devices located within a defined geographic broadcast target area. The broadcast target area is defined by a broadcast agent using a broadcast agent webpage and a broadcast service bureau transmits the broadcast message to one or more local carriers who provide telecommunication service to the broadcast target area. The local carrier transmits the broadcast message to targeted users within the broadcast target area.

Claims

1. A public service message broadcast system providing a broadcast message to a broadcast target area, the system comprising:

a broadcast agent webpage receiving broadcast agent input defining the broadcast target area and the broadcast message;

a carrier broadcast server transmitting the broadcast message to the broadcast target area; and

a broadcast service bureau hosting said broadcast agent webpage and coupled to said carrier broadcast server, said broadcast service bureau receiving the broadcast agent input and transmitting the broadcast message to the carrier broadcast server.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the webpage provides a broadcast agent with geographic data.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the geographic data includes a map and wherein the broadcast target area is defined as a function of the map.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the broadcast service bureau transmits the broadcast target area to the carrier broadcast server.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user receiving device, said carrier broadcast server transmitting the broadcast message to said user receiving device located within the broadcast target area.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the user receiving device is one of a personal computer, a wireline telephone, a pager, a mobile telephone, and a personal digital assistant device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the broadcast service bureau verifies an authority of the broadcast agent as a function of a broadcast agent authorization parameter, said broadcast service bureau configured for transmitting the broadcast message responsive to the authority verification.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reporter module for reporting the broadcast message and the broadcast target area.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a broadcast controller providing a second broadcast agent interface for receiving broadcast agent input defining the broadcast target area and the broadcast message.

10. A public service message broadcast service bureau system providing a broadcast message to a broadcast target area, the system comprising:

a first communication interface coupled to a first network;

a second communication interface coupled to a second network;

a webpage receiving broadcast agent input defining the broadcast target area and the broadcast message; and

a computer hosting the webpage over the first communication interface, said computer receiving the broadcast agent input and transmitting the broadcast message to a local broadcast system over the second communication interface.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the webpage provides a broadcast agent with geographic data.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the geographic data includes a map and wherein the broadcast target area is defined as a function of the map.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer transmits the broadcast target area to the local broadcast system over the second communication interface.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer verifies an authority of the broadcast agent as a function of a broadcast agent authorization parameter, said system configured for transmitting the broadcast message to a local broadcast system responsive to the authority verification.

15. A website interface system for a public service message broadcasting system comprising:

a broadcast agent device that includes a display for displaying a broadcast agent webpage; and

a webpage host that communicates with the broadcast agent device and that establishes a communications interface between the broadcast agent device and the webpage host;

said broadcast agent device receiving broadcast agent input defining the broadcast target area and the broadcast message, said broadcast agent device transmitting the broadcast target area and the broadcast message to the webpage host over the communication interface.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the webpage provides a broadcast agent with geographic data.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the geographic data includes a map and wherein the broadcast target area is defined as a function of the map.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the webpage includes a shape tool for defining an irregular shaped broadcast target area.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the broadcast agent device is one of a personal computer, a wireline telephone, a pager, a mobile telephone, and a personal digital assistant device.

20. A method of public service broadcast messaging to a broadcast target area, the method comprising:

hosting a broadcast agent webpage;

receiving a broadcast target area and a broadcast message from the broadcast agent webpage; and

transmitting the broadcast message to the broadcast target area.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving broadcast agent input via the hosted webpage.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting the broadcast message to a carrier broadcast server that transmits the broadcast message to the broadcast target area.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting the broadcast target area to the carrier broadcast server.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the broadcast agent webpage provides a broadcast agent with a map.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the broadcast agent webpage enables the broadcast agent to define a broadcast target area with an irregular shape.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising receiving the broadcast message at a user receiving device as a function of the user receiving device being located within the broadcast target area.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising verifying an authority of a broadcast agent accessing the broadcast agent webpage and generating the broadcast message, wherein said verifying is a function of a broadcast agent authorization parameter.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the authorization parameter is a geographic parameter defining an authorized broadcast agent broadcasting area.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein transmitting the broadcast message to the broadcast target area is responsive to the authority verification.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting a report containing the broadcast message and the broadcast target area to a reporting system.