On-demand information service using wireless cellular communications system

• US 6,567,660 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Command Audio Corporation
• Inventors: Wegener, Albert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, ERIKA ALISE
• Application Number:
  US09/630,039
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/418, 455/77, 455/137, 455/3.01, 455/3.04, 455/3.06, 455/412, 455/419, 455/420
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 Wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

The quantity of unused channels in a cellular wireless communications system is identified. From program content that is stored in a database, an amount of program content is accessed based on the identified quantity of unused channels. The accessed program content is formatted for broadcast on at least a portion of the unused channels, and the formatted content is then transferred to the cellular wireless communications system for broadcast to mobile receivers. In some embodiments a content transmission schedule is broadcast on one of the unused channels.

Claims

1. A broadcasting method comprising the acts of:

identifying a quantity of unused channels in a particular cell of a cellular wireless communications system;

accessing program content from a content database based on the quantity of unused channels;

formatting the accessed program content for broadcast on at least one of the unused channels;

broadcasting the formatted content on at least one of the unused channels;

associating a transmission schedule with program content that is broadcast in a second cell adjacent to the particular cell; and

broadcasting the transmission schedule in the particular cell.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission schedule includes the channel over which a particular program is broadcast.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmission schedule includes a time at which a particular program is broadcast.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the acts of:

reserving at least one of the unused channels for short-notice content; and

broadcasting short-notice content on the reserved channel.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the acts of:

detecting an increase in voice traffic demand within the particular cell;

terminating broadcasting of the content on one of the identified unused channels; and

subsequently using the one of the unused channels to carry voice traffic.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the acts of:

identifying certain program content that will not be broadcast on the one of the identified unused channels due to the act of terminating content broadcast; and

broadcasting the certain program content on another of the identified unused channels subsequent to using the one of the unused channels to carry voice traffic.

7. A method for receiving an audio or video program in a mobile receiver, comprising the acts of:

receiving via a channel in a first cell of a wireless cellular communications system a first transmission schedule and a second transmission schedule, wherein the first transmission schedule identifies a channel on which the program is broadcast in the first cell, and the second transmission schedule identifies a channel on which the program is broadcast in a second cell of the wireless cellular communications system, the second cell being adjacent the first cell;

storing the received first and second transmission schedules in the receiver;

using the first transmission schedule to capture a first portion of the program if the receiver is located in the first cell;

using the second transmission schedule to capture a second portion of the program if the receiver is located in the second cell subsequent to being in the first cell; and

storing the captured first and second portions of the program in the receiver for output on demand by a user.

8. A broadcasting method comprising the acts of:

identifying a quantity of unused channels in a particular cell of a cellular wireless communications system;

accessing program content from a content database based on the quantity of unused channels;

formatting the accessed program content for broadcast on at least one of the unused channels;

broadcasting the formatted content on at least one of the unused channels;

associating a transmission schedule with the accessed program content;

broadcasting the transmission schedule on at least one of the unused channels; and

simultaneously broadcasting on each unused channel a message indicating that the transmission schedule is replaced by a second transmission schedule.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the transmission schedule includes the channel over which a particular program is broadcast.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the transmission schedule includes a time at which a particular program is broadcast.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the acts of:

reserving at least one of the unused channels for short-notice content; and

broadcasting short-notice content on the reserved channel.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising the acts of:

detecting an increase in voice traffic demand within the particular cell;

terminating broadcasting of the content on one of the identified unused channels; and

subsequently using the one of the unused channels to carry voice traffic.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the acts of:

identifying certain program content that will not be broadcast on the one of the identified unused channels due to the act of terminating content broadcast; and

broadcasting the certain program content on another of the identified unused channels subsequent to using the one of the unused channels to carry voice traffic.