Voice broadcast location system

• US 20060229088A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/103,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229088A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A system and method is discussed for targeting a message to an intended listener over a public announcement system by selecting a single broadcast location, such as a speaker, from a plurality of broadcast locations. A typical method for locating a listener uses a method of triangulation of a wireless device located on the listener. A broadcast location is selected from distance calculations that determine which broadcast location is closest to the listener. Each broadcast location has an associated Internet Protocol (IP) address. The message is delivered to the IP address of the closest broadcast location. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology can be used to selectively deliver the message.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a single broadcast location for a broadcast signal, comprising:

i) determining a location of a listener relative to a plurality of broadcast locations; and

ii) selecting from the plurality of broadcast locations, a broadcast location closest to the listener location from the plurality of broadcast locations; and

iii) delivering the broadcast signal to the selected broadcast location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the listener location further comprises using a method of triangulation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method of triangulation uses a determination of a location of a wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a broadcast location further comprises determining proximity of the listener location to the broadcast location.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining proximity of the listener location further comprises determining a boundary zone for a broadcast location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining a boundary zone further comprises storing a set of zone locations obtained at physical locations in a software database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the broadcast signal further comprises i) associating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the plurality of broadcast locations, and, ii) delivering broadcast content from a source to the IP address associated with the selected broadcast location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the encoded message is transmitted using Voice over Internet Protocol.

9. A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by a computer enable the computer to perform a method for selecting from the plurality of broadcast locations, a single broadcast location for a broadcast signal, comprising:

i) determining a location of a listener relative to a plurality of broadcast locations; and

ii) selecting a broadcast location closest to the listener location from the plurality of broadcast locations; and

iv) delivering the broadcast signal to the selected broadcast location.

10. The medium of claim 9, wherein in the method determining the listener location further comprises using a method of triangulation.

11. The medium of claim 10, wherein in the method the triangulation uses a determination of a location of a wireless device.

12. The medium of claim 9, wherein in the method selecting a broadcast location further comprises determining a proximity of the listener location to the broadcast location.

13. The medium of claim 12, wherein in the method determining proximity of the listener location further comprises determining a boundary zone for a broadcast location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein in the method determining a boundary zone further comprises storing a set of zone locations obtained at physical locations in a software database.

15. The medium of claim 9, wherein in the method delivering the broadcast signal further comprises i) associating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the plurality of broadcast locations, and, ii) delivering broadcast content from a source to the IP address associated with the selected broadcast location.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein in the method the encoded message is transmitted using Voice over Internet Protocol.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein delivering the broadcast signal further comprises i) associating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to the plurality of broadcast locations, and, ii) delivering broadcast content from a source to the IP address associated with the selected broadcast location.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the encoded message is transmitted using Voice over Internet Protocol.

17. A apparatus for selecting a single broadcast location, comprising:

i) a plurality of broadcast locations; and

ii) a process that determines a location of a listener relative to the plurality of broadcast locations and selects from the plurality of broadcast locations, a broadcast location closest to the listener location from the plurality of broadcast locations and delivers the broadcast signal to the selected broadcast location.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor determines the listener location uses triangulation.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the process uses triangulation to determine a location of a wireless device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor selects a broadcast location by determining a proximity of the listener location to the broadcast location.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor determines proximity of the listener location by determining a boundary zone for a broadcast location.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor determines a boundary zone by storing a set of zone locations obtained at physical locations in a software database.