Apparatus, method and system for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region
First Claim
1. A method for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving a first request from a first mobile unit for an information broadcast feature in a first geographic area served by a first serving transceiver;
(b) determining whether a broadcast channel providing the information broadcast feature is currently in use in the first geographic area;
(c) when the broadcast channel is not currently in use in the first geographic area, providing power to a transmitter for the broadcast channel of the first serving transceiver and connecting a trunk line having the requested information broadcast feature to the broadcast channel;
(d) directing the first mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area; and
(e) muting a transmit voice channel of the first mobile unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, method and system provide or broadcast information within a given geographic region that is also specific to a given geographic region, such as traffic reports, sightseeing interests, public services information, or weather conditions. The apparatus, method and system of the present invention also provide for different or varying information to be broadcast from region to region; specific hand-off procedures as mobile units change regions; the capability for multiple mobile units to utilize the same broadcast channel containing the information; and the muting of the reverse voice channels of such mobile units during such broadcast sessions. The system of the present invention includes a plurality of serving transceivers located in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas, and a switching center coupled via a plurality of trunk lines to the plurality of serving transceivers. The system is user activated, wherein the switching center, when operative, includes program instructions to receive from a first serving transceiver a first request from a first mobile unit for an information broadcast feature in a first geographic area, and to connect a trunk line having the requested information broadcast feature to a broadcast channel; to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the first mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area and to mute a transmit voice channel of the first mobile unit.
165 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a first request from a first mobile unit for an information broadcast feature in a first geographic area served by a first serving transceiver;
(b) determining whether a broadcast channel providing the information broadcast feature is currently in use in the first geographic area;
(c) when the broadcast channel is not currently in use in the first geographic area, providing power to a transmitter for the broadcast channel of the first serving transceiver and connecting a trunk line having the requested information broadcast feature to the broadcast channel;
(d) directing the first mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area; and
(e) muting a transmit voice channel of the first mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
receiving a designated feature code.
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3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) further comprises:
disabling any multi-party features of the first mobile unit.
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4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
monitoring whether any mobile unit of a plurality of mobile units is receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area.
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5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
when there are no mobile units of the plurality of mobile units receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, removing power to the transmitter for the broadcast channel of the first serving transceiver.
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6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
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while the first mobile unit is receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, receiving a second request from a second mobile unit for the information broadcast feature in the first geographic area;
directing the second mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area; and
muting a transmit voice channel of the second mobile unit.
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7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
monitoring a signal strength of the first mobile unit.
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8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
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when the signal strength of the first mobile unit received by the first serving transceiver is below a predetermined level, transmitting a request to a plurality of adjacent serving transceivers in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas to determine the signal strength of the first mobile unit;
selecting an adjacent serving transceiver of the plurality of adjacent serving transceivers as a target serving transceiver;
transmitting a hand-off directive to the target serving transceiver;
determining a second broadcast channel providing an information broadcast feature in a second geographic area served by the target serving transceiver; and
directing the first mobile unit to the second broadcast channel.
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9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
transmitting a message to the first serving transceiver that the target serving transceiver is serving the first mobile unit.
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10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
generating an accounting record for the first serving transceiver.
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11. A system for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region, the system comprising:
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a plurality of serving transceivers located in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas, the plurality of serving transceivers having a first serving transceiver; and
a switching center coupled via a plurality of trunk lines to the plurality of serving transceivers, wherein the switching center, when operative, includes program instructions to receive from the first serving transceiver a first request from a first mobile unit for an information broadcast feature in a first geographic area served by the first serving transceiver, and to determine whether a broadcast channel providing the information broadcast feature is currently in use in the first geographic area;
the switching center including further instructions, when the broadcast channel is not currently in use in the first geographic area, to connect a trunk line having the requested information broadcast feature to the broadcast channel and to direct the first serving transceiver to provide power to a transmitter for the broadcast channel;
the switching center including further instructions to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the first mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, and to mute a transmit voice channel of the first mobile unit.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
a network interface couplable to the plurality of trunk lines;
a memory, the memory storing a plurality of information broadcast features; and
a processor coupled to the network interface and to the memory.
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22. An apparatus for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region, the apparatus couplable via a plurality of trunk lines to a plurality of serving transceivers located in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas, the plurality of serving transceivers having a first serving transceiver, the apparatus comprising:
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a network interface couplable to the plurality of trunk lines;
a memory, the memory storing a plurality of information broadcast features; and
a processor coupled to the network interface and to the memory, wherein the processor, when operative, includes program instructions to receive from the first serving transceiver a first request from a first mobile unit for an information broadcast feature in a first geographic area served by the first serving transceiver, and to determine whether a broadcast channel providing the information broadcast feature is currently in use in the first geographic area;
the processor including further instructions, when the broadcast channel is not currently in use in the first geographic area, to connect a trunk line, of the plurality of trunk lines, having the requested information broadcast feature to the broadcast channel and to direct the first serving transceiver to provide power to a transmitter for the broadcast channel;
the processor including further instructions to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the first mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, and to mute a transmit voice channel of the first mobile unit.- View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification