Network support for remote sign content update

• US 20060270424A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Benco, David S., Mahajan, Sanjeev, True, Sandra Lynn, Sheen, Baoling S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system and method are provided for provisioning network support to allow an authorized mobile subscriber to update message content of a remote signage system having variable content capabilities such as an electronic road sign or the like. The authorized subscriber does so by transmitting a text message, which is processed by the network and provided to the sign as content for display.

Claims

1. A method for remotely providing content to a sign through a wireless telecommunications network, the method comprising:

transmitting the content of the sign by a user through the wireless network, the content being transmitted as a text message;

receiving the text message by the wireless network;

determining by the wireless network whether the user is a valid subscriber;

determining by the wireless network whether the valid subscriber is authorized to provide the content to the sign;

transmitting the text message to the sign by the wireless network if the valid subscriber is authorized to provide the content to the sign;

receiving the text message by the sign; and

,

displaying the text message by the sign.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the wireless network comprises a switching module operative to receive the text message and selectively transmit the text message based on the determining steps.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the switching module is a mobile switching center.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the determining whether the user is a valid subscriber comprises accessing a subscriber database.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein determining whether the valid user is authorized comprises accessing a billboard database.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising storing the text message by the sign in a memory location.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the display of the text message comprises accessing the memory location to retrieve the text message.

8. A system for remotely providing content to a sign through a wireless network, the system comprising:

a means for transmitting the content of the sign by a user through the wireless network, the content being transmitted as a text message;

a means for receiving the text message;

a means for determining whether the user is a valid subscriber;

a means for determining whether the valid subscriber is authorized to provide the content to the sign;

a means for transmitting the text message to the sign if the valid subscriber is authorized to provide the content to the sign;

a means for receiving the text message by the sign; and

, a means for displaying the text message by the sign.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a subscriber database.

10. The system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a billboard database.

11. The system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising means for storing the text message by the sign in a memory location.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising means for accessing the memory location to retrieve the text message.

13. A system comprising:

a switching module operative to receive a text message from a user, determine whether the user is a valid subscriber to a sign update service, determine whether the valid subscriber is authorized to provide the text message to the sign and transmit the text message to the sign if the valid subscriber is authorized to provide the content to the sign; and

,

a receiving module operative to receive the text message and display the text message.

14. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the switching module is a mobile switching center in a wireless telecommunications network.

15. The system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a subscriber database having information stored therein relating to whether the user is a valid subscriber.

16. The system as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a billboard database having information stored therein relating to whether a valid subscriber is authorized to provide content to a sign.

17. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the receiving module is housed on the sign.

18. The system as set forth in claim 13 wherein the sign is operative to display the text message.