Hypermedia links that address traffic channels in a wireless communication system

• US 6,516,191 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1999
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fernstedt, Anders, Greenspan, Steven L., Cloutier, Jocelyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/448,445
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/509, 455/418, 455/419, 455/445, 455/412, 455/452
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• 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 hypertext protocol for Internet browsing applications includes hyperlinks that address traffic channels in a wireless system. Broadcast information content may be transmitted by the wireless system in one or more broadcast traffic channels. Multiple mobile stations may receive the broadcast information content simultaneously. Because the mobile stations share the broadcast traffic channels, a high throughput is achieved with proportionately less bandwidth being broadcast into a cell site.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system, a browsing method for a mobile station, comprising:

receiving in a first unicast traffic channel a hyperlink, wherein the hyperlink identifies and symbolically addresses a broadcast traffic channel,

periodically receiving, over an administrative traffic channel, translation information associating symbolic addresses of broadcast traffic channels with identifiers of the broadcast traffic channels,

storing the translation information in a memory at the mobile station,

resolving the symbolic address of the hyperlink by retrieving a traffic channel identifier from the mobile station memory stored in association with the symbolic address,

tuning a receiver of the mobile station to the broadcast traffic channel, wherein the tuning step is performed with reference to the retrieved traffic channel identifier, and

receiving data via the broadcast traffic channel.

2. The browsing method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering the hyperlink for display, and

wherein the tuning and receiving steps are performed only after the rendered hyperlink is selected.

3. The browsing method of claim 1, wherein the hyperlink directly addresses the broadcast traffic channel.

4. The browsing method of claim 1, further comprising a symbol-to-traffic-channel translation comprising:

transmitting a resolution request to a base station, and

receiving a traffic channel identifier in response thereto,

wherein the tuning step is performed with reference to the received traffic channel identifier.

5. The browsing method of claim 1, wherein the symbol-to-traffic-channel translation is stored in a memory at the mobile station.

6. The browsing method of claim 1, wherein banner advertising data is transmitted over the broadcast traffic channel.

7. The browsing method of claim 1, wherein the hyperlink contains a filter identifier and the browsing method further comprises rendering only a portion of the data received via the broadcast traffic channel based upon the filter.

8. A wireless browsing method, comprising:

transmitting a request for data,

receiving in a first wireless traffic channel, first data responsive to the request, the first data including a hyperlink identifying a second wireless traffic channel, wherein the hyperlink symbolically addresses the second wireless traffic channel;

periodically receiving over an administrative traffic channel, translation information associating symbolic addresses of traffic channels with traffic channel identifiers of the traffic channels,

storing the translation information in a memory at the mobile station,

resolving the symbolic address of the hyperlink by retrieving a traffic channel identifier from the mobile station memory stored in association with the symbolic address, and

receiving data in a second wireless traffic channel, wherein the second receiving step is performed with reference to the retrieved traffic channel identifier.

9. The browsing method of claim 8, further comprising:

rendering the hyperlink, and

wherein the second receiving step is performed only after the rendered hyperlink is selected.

10. The browsing method of claim 8, wherein the hyperlink directly addresses the second wireless traffic channel.

11. The browsing method of claim 8, further comprising a symbol-to-traffic channel translation comprising:

transmitting a name resolution request to a base station, and

receiving a traffic channel identifier in response thereto,

wherein the tuning step is performed with reference to the traffic channel identifier.

12. The browsing method of claim 8, wherein banner advertising data is transmitted over the second traffic channel.

13. The browsing method of claim 8, wherein the hyperlink contains a filter identifier, the browsing method further comprising rendering a portion of the data received via the second traffic channel based upon the filter.