GEOGRAPHY-BASED FILTERING OF BROADCASTS

• US 20070124395A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, David, Edge, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/534,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124395A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/50 of broadcast or relay stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/53 of destinations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1859 adapted to provide push services, e.g. data channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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

Abstract

A communication system for filtering multi-destination messages is disclosed. The communication system includes a number of transmitters, an interface, a first filter, and a second filter. The number of transmitters are configured to send information wirelessly to a number of wireless terminals. The interface is configured to receive messages intended for at least some of the number of wireless terminals, where the number of wireless terminals include a wireless terminal. The first filter is configured to determine a subset of the number of transmitters that generally correspond to a predetermined geographic criteria, where the subset are configured to transmit a message. The second filter is configured to determine if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria.

Claims

1. A communication system for filtering multi-destination messages, the communication system comprising:

a plurality of transmitters configured to send information wirelessly to a plurality of wireless terminals;

an interface configured to receive messages intended for at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless terminal;

a first filter configured to determine a subset of the plurality of transmitters that generally correspond to a predetermined geographic criteria, wherein the subset are configured to transmit a message; and

a second filter configured to determine if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria.

2. The communication system for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless terminal receives the message.

3. The communication system for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined geographic criteria corresponds to at least one of a geometric shape in two- or three-dimensions, a civic boundary, an altitude, a velocity, or a direction of travel.

4. The communication system for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 1, wherein the second filter determines if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria based upon a past location of the wireless terminal.

5. The communication system for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 1, wherein the second filter determines if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria based upon an anticipated future location of the wireless terminal.

6. The communication system for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second filter are geographically separated.

7. The communication system for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 1, wherein the second filter is co-located with the wireless terminal.

8. The communication system for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 1, further comprising an alert function configured to determine what alert mechanisms to activate for the message.

9. The communication system for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 8, wherein the alert mechanisms comprise at least one of:

a status light, a screen message, a sound, or a vibration.

10. The communication system for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 1, wherein the message includes metadata specifying the predetermined geographic criteria.

11. A method for filtering multi-destination messages, the method comprising steps of:

receiving messages intended for at least some of a plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless terminal;

determining a subset of a plurality of transmitters, wherein the subset generally correspond to a predetermined geographic criteria;

transmitting the message wirelessly to the plurality of wireless terminals using the subset; and

determining if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria.

12. The method for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 11, further comprising a step of receiving the message based, at least in part, on the second-listed determining step.

13. The method for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 11, further comprising steps of:

beginning to receive the message with the wireless terminal; and

discontinuing the receipt of the message based upon the second-listed determining step.

14. The method for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 11, wherein the second-listed determining step is performed away from the first-listed determining step.

15. The method for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 11, wherein the first-listed determining step comprises a sub-step of determining the subset as those of the plurality of transmitters that may be able to transmit into the predetermined geographic criteria.

16. The method for filtering multi-destination messages as recited in claim 11, further comprising steps of:

analyzing the message to determine an alert from a plurality of possible alerts; and

generating the alert.

17. A communication system for filtering broadcast or multicast messages, the communication system comprising:

means for receiving messages intended for at least some of a plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless terminal;

first means for determining a subset of a plurality of transmitters, wherein the subset generally correspond to a predetermined geographic criteria;

means for transmitting the message wirelessly to the plurality of wireless terminals using the subset; and

second means for determining if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria.

18. The communication system for filtering broadcast or multicast messages as recited in claim 17, further comprising means for receiving the message should the wireless terminal correspond to the predetermined geographic criteria.

19. The communication system for filtering broadcast or multicast messages as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

means for beginning to receive the message with the wireless terminal; and

means for discontinuing the receipt of the message should the wireless terminal not correspond to the predetermined geographic criteria.

20. The communication system for filtering broadcast or multicast messages as recited in claim 17, wherein the second means for determining is located away from the first means for determining.

21. The communication system for filtering broadcast or multicast messages as recited in claim 17, wherein the first means for determining determines the subset as those of the plurality of transmitters that may be able to transmit into the predetermined geographic criteria.

22. The communication system for filtering broadcast or multicast messages as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

means for analyzing the message to determine an alert from a plurality of possible alerts; and

means for generating the alert.

23. A communication device for filtering broadcast or multicast messages, the communication device comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive messages intended for at least some of a plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless terminal,

determine a subset of a plurality of transmitters, wherein the subset generally correspond to a predetermined geographic criteria,

determine if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria, and

transmit the message wirelessly to a plurality of wireless terminals using the subset; and

a memory coupled with said processor.

24. The communication device for filtering broadcast or multicast messages as recited in claim 23, wherein the predetermined geographic criteria corresponds to at least one of a geometric shape in two- or three-dimensions, a civic boundary, an altitude, a velocity, or a direction of travel.

25. The communication device for filtering broadcast or multicast messages as recited in claim 23, wherein the second filter determines if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria based upon a past location of the wireless terminal.

26. The communication device for filtering broadcast or multicast messages as recited in claim 23, wherein the second filter determines if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria based upon an anticipated future location of the wireless terminal.