MESSAGE BROADCASTING OVER WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20100142438A1
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: CHEN, AN MEI, Chandhok, Ravinder Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate broadcasting and receiving messages in a wireless media broadcast network. Mobile devices are equipped to receive media over a broadcast network where presentation of the data can be enabled through a content policy. Broadcast messages can be provisioned and delivered over the network such that mobile devices can receive the message regardless of the level or existence of purchased content. The messages can be broadcast for multiple purposes, including emergency messages, which can come from an emergency or amber alert system, venue and/or location specific messages, etc. The messages can be broadcast at a regional level as well by leveraging such functionality of the media broadcast network.

Claims

1. A method for receiving messages over a wireless broadcast network, comprising:

detecting a modification of an overhead information symbol for a control channel in a wireless broadcast network;

monitoring the control channel from a mobile device based at least in part on the detected modification to receive a message; and

forwarding the message to an application executing on the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving media content over a disparate channel of the wireless broadcast network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising processing the media content based at least in part on a content policy accessible from a disparate network.

4. The method of claim 2, the message comprises a link for purchasing receipt of the media content over the wireless broadcast network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is an emergency alert message.

6. The method of claim 5, the application interrupts a disparate application to display the emergency alert message.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising analyzing a region specified in the emergency alert message to ensure applicability to the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising suspending control channel monitoring until a subsequent modification is detected of the overhead information symbol.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless broadcast network is a MediaFLO network and the mobile device is equipped to receive MediaFLO content from a MediaFLO transmit subsystem.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification includes incrementing a sequence number overhead information symbol related to the control channel.

11. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

determine a sequence number modification related to a control channel in a wireless broadcast network;

receive a broadcast message by monitoring the control channel via a data stack based on the determined sequence number modification; and

present the broadcast message to an application executing on the processor for rendering the broadcast message; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

12. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates presenting a broadcast message received over a wireless broadcast network, comprising:

means for receiving notification of an overhead information symbol modification related to a control channel in a wireless broadcast network;

means for receiving a message over the control channel based at least in part on the modification; and

means for transmitting the message to an application executing on the wireless communications apparatus.

13. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to detect a modification of an overhead information symbol for a control channel in a wireless broadcast network;

code for causing the at least one computer to monitor the control channel based at least in part on the detected modification to receive a message; and

code for causing the at least one computer to forward the message to an application.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a message detector that determines a modification to data related to a control channel in a wireless broadcast network;

a broadcast data stack that receives a broadcast message over the control channel based at least in part on the determined modification; and

a message analyzer that evaluates one or more aspects of the broadcast message indicating relevancy to at least one application executing on the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the broadcast data stack receives media broadcast content over a disparate channel of the wireless broadcast network.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a application that processes the media content based at least in part on a content policy accessible from a unicast network.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the broadcast message is an emergency alert message.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the message analyzer interrupts another application to deliver the emergency alert message.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the message analyzer further evaluates a region specified in the emergency alert message to ensure applicability with a region related to the apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the wireless broadcast network is a MediaFLO network and the apparatus is equipped to receive MediaFLO content from a MediaFLO transmit subsystem.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the modification includes incrementing a sequence number overhead information symbol related to the control channel.

22. A method for facilitating broadcasting messages in a wireless broadcast network, comprising:

constructing a broadcast message based at least in part on received message data and a time span for broadcasting the message;

modifying one or more overhead information symbols related to a control channel; and

transmitting the broadcast message over the control channel for the time span to one or more broadcast transmitters for subsequent broadcast to a plurality of mobile devices.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising selecting the broadcast transmitters based at least in part on a specified region or venue for the broadcast message.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of constructing the broadcast message further includes specifying a message type.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the message type corresponds to an emergency alert and the message data is received from an emergency alert system.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising broadcasting media content over the one or more broadcast transmitters for receipt by one or more mobile devices.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the message data comprises a link to purchase receipt of the media content.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of modifying the one or more overhead information symbols includes incrementing a sequence number related to the control channel to indicate presence of the broadcast message.

29. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

create a broadcast message comprising received parameters corresponding to message content, a start time and end time for broadcasting, and a region to receive the broadcast message;

increment a sequence number related to a control channel to indicate subsequent broadcast of the broadcast message;

select one or more broadcast transmitters for broadcasting the broadcast message based at least in part on the region; and

transmit the broadcast message over the control channel to the broadcast transmitters between the start time and the end time; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

30. A wireless communications apparatus for broadcasting messages over a wireless media broadcast network, comprising:

means for creating a broadcast message from data received specifying content, time span, and/or a region for broadcasting the message;

means for modifying a parameter related to a control channel in a broadcast network to indicate message broadcast; and

means for transmitting the broadcast message to a plurality of broadcast transmitters over the control channel for the given time span.

31. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to construct a broadcast message based at least in part on received message data and a time span for broadcasting the message;

code for causing the at least one computer to modify one or more overhead information symbols related to a control channel; and

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit the broadcast message over the control channel for the time span to one or more broadcast transmitters for subsequent broadcast to a plurality of mobile devices.

32. An apparatus, comprising:

a data receiver that obtains parameters for broadcasting a message in a wireless media broadcast network;

a message constructor that generates a broadcast message based at least in part on the obtained parameters and modifies information related to a control channel to indicate broadcast of the broadcast message; and

a message broadcaster that transmits the broadcast message to one or more broadcast transmitters for propagation to a plurality of mobile devices.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the message broadcaster selects the one or more broadcast transmitters based at least in part on a region parameter specified in the parameters.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the message constructor specifies a message type in the generated broadcast message.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the message type corresponds to an emergency alert and the parameters are obtained from an emergency alert system.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the message broadcaster additionally transmits media content to the one or more broadcast transmitters for broadcast to the one or more mobile devices.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the parameters comprise a link to receive the media content.

38. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the modified information includes incrementing a sequence number related to the control channel.