Method and apparatus for warning a mobile user approaching a boundary of an area of interest

• US 20090011777A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grunebach, Georgann S., Mierzwa, Kevin G., Guzman, Jorge H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,971,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A mobile wireless system (10) includes a transmitter such as a satellite (18) that broadcasts wireless signals such as boundaries for specific areas to a mobile receiving device (22). Mobile receiving device (22) may include an antenna (26) and a mobile receiving device (28). A locating receiver (50) is used to generate locating signals so that a determination may be made to the location of the mobile receiving device. When the mobile receiving device (28) approaches the boundary of the designated marketing area, a warning is generated.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile device comprising:

determining a location of the mobile device;

determining an area of interest fixed on the surface of the earth in response to the location, the area of interest having a boundary;

broadcasting wireless signals having location specific information therein;

receiving the wireless signals at the mobile device;

utilizing the wireless signals corresponding to the area of interest; and

generating a warning as the mobile device approaches the boundary.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a warning comprises generating an audible warning.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating a warning comprises generating a visual warning.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising prior to generating a warning, determining the mobile device is within a boundary zone, and wherein generating comprises generating the warning within the boundary zone.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising when the mobile device travels outside the area of interest, determining an extended area of interest having an extended boundary, and wherein generating comprises generating a warning as the mobile device approaches the extended boundary.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 further comprising prior to generating a warning, determining the mobile device is within an extended boundary zone, and wherein generating comprises generating the warning within the extended boundary zone.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile device comprises a personal electronic device.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile device comprises a laptop computer.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a location comprises determining the location in response to a GPS receiver.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a location comprises determining the location in response to a GPS receiver disposed within the mobile receiving device.

18. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a location comprises determining the location in response to a cellular phone system.

19. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the area of interest comprises a designated marketing area and receiving the wireless signals comprises receiving local channels corresponding to the designated marketing area.

20. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving wireless signals from a satellite.

21. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting from a terrestrial source.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein the terrestrial source comprises a cell tower.

23. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting from a satellite.

24. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting from a stratospheric platform.

5. A method as recited in 4 wherein determining the device is within a boundary zone comprises determining a distance from a boundary line.

6. A method as recited in 4 wherein determining the device is within a boundary zone comprises determining a signal strength.

7. A method as recited in 4 wherein determining the device is within a boundary zone comprises determining a position coordinate of the mobile device.

10. A method as recited in 9 wherein determining the device is within a boundary zone comprises determining a distance from an extended boundary line.

11. A method as recited in 9 wherein determining the device is within a boundary zone comprises determining a signal strength.

12. A method as recited in 9 wherein determining the device is within a boundary zone comprises determining a position coordinate of the mobile device.

25. A method of operating a mobile device comprising:

determining a signal strength of a satellite beam;

comparing the signal strength to a threshold; and

generating a warning when the signal strength is below a threshold.

26. A method as recited in claim 25 further comprising determining a location of the mobile device;

determining an area of interest fixed on the surface of the earth in response to the location, the area of interest;

broadcasting wireless signals having location specific information therein;

receiving the wireless signals at the mobile device; and

utilizing the wireless signals corresponding to the area of interest.

27. A mobile device coupled to a GPS receiver generating GPS signals comprising:

a display; and

a controller coupled to the GPS receiver and the display, said controller determining a location of the mobile device, determining a designated marketing area fixed on the surface of the earth in response to the location, said designated marketing area comprising a boundary, said controller receiving the wireless signals, displaying the wireless signals corresponding to the designated marketing area, and when the mobile device approaches the boundary of the designated marketing area, generating a warning.

28. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the warning comprises an audible warning.

29. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the warning comprises a visual warning.

30. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the controller prior to generating a warning, determining the mobile device is within a boundary zone, and generating the warning within the boundary zone.

34. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein said controller when the mobile device travels outside the area of interest, determines an extended area of interest having an extended boundary, and wherein the controller generates a warning as the mobile device approaches the extended boundary.

35. A system as recited in claim 34 wherein said controller prior to generating a warning, determines the mobile device is within an extended boundary zone, and generates the warning within the extended boundary zone.

36. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

37. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the mobile device comprises a personal electronic device.

38. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the mobile device comprises a laptop computer.

39. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the area of interest comprises a designated marketing area and wherein the controller receives the wireless signal comprising local channels corresponding to the designated marketing area.

40. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the controller receives wireless signals from a satellite.

41. A system as recited in claim 27 wherein the controller receives wireless signals from a terrestrial source.

42. A method as recited in claim 27 wherein the controller receives wireless signals from a cell tower.

31. A system as recited in 30 wherein the boundary zone comprises a distance from a boundary line.

32. A system as recited in 30 wherein boundary zone comprises a signal strength.

33. A system as recited in 30 wherein boundary zone comprises a position coordinate of the mobile device.