Method and apparatus for providing localized information to a communication device in a wide area communication system

• US 6,675,022 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burgan, John M., Lopatukhin, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, LANA N
• Application Number:
  US09/944,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 455/524, 455/458, 455/561, 455/463, 455/422.1, 455/525, 455/552.1, 455/447, 455/500, 455/507, 455/517, 370/328, 340/7.27
• US Class Current: 455/524
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/70 characterised in that receivers can be addressed
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/53 of destinations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1845 broadcast or multicast in a specific location, e.g. geocast protocols for adapting network applications to user terminal location H04L67/52; services specially adapted for wireless communication networks making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging

Abstract

A wide area communication system (100,200) employs a method and apparatus for providing a localized information (410) to a communication device (500) located in the wide area communication system (100,200). The wide area communication system (100,200) includes a plurality of local coverage areas (110-112, 219-225) that are each served by one or more broadcast transmission sites (103-108, 203-212). A broadcast transmission site (300) providing communication service to a local coverage area that includes the communication device (500) transmit, during a first pre-allocated time interval and/or together with a first pre-allocated broadcast address, information relating to their local coverage area. During a second time interval and/or together with an individual address (414) of the communication device (500), the same broadcast transmission sites together with other broadcast transmission sites in the wide area communication system (100, 200) transmit an individualized information (418) to the communication device (500).

Claims

1. In a wide area communication system that includes a plurality of broadcast transmission sites and a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of broadcast transmission sites providing at least one broadcast service to the plurality of communication devices throughout the wide area communication system, a method for providing localized information to at least one communication device of the plurality of communication devices that is located in a first local coverage area of a plurality of local coverage areas within the wide area communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting, by a first group of broadcast transmission sites during a first time interval, a first signal including a first localized information relating to the first local coverage area, the first group of broadcast transmission sites being a subset of the plurality of broadcast transmission sites and providing a first plurality of broadcast services to the first local coverage area; and

transmitting, by the plurality of broadcast transmission sites during a second time interval, a second signal including an individualized information for the at least one communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one communication device is located in a second local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas, the method further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by a second group of broadcast transmission sites during a third time interval, a third signal including a second localized information relating to the second local coverage area, the second group of broadcast transmission sites being a subset of the plurality of broadcast transmission sites and providing a second plurality of broadcast services to the second local coverage area.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the at least one communication device, the first signal including the first localized information relating to the first local coverage area;

determining, by the at least one communication device, a first quality characteristic of the first signal including the first localized information relating to the first local coverage area to produce the first quality characteristic;

receiving, by the at least one communication device, the third signal including the second localized information relating to the second local coverage area;

determining, by the at least one communication device, a second quality characteristic of the third signal including the second localized information relating to the second local coverage area to produce the second quality characteristic;

comparing, by the at least one communication device, the first quality characteristic and the second quality characteristic;

storing, by the at least one communication device, the first localized information relating to the first local coverage area in a memory location of the at least one communication device when the first quality characteristic is a higher quality than the second quality characteristic; and

storing, by the at least one communication device, the second localized information relating to the second local coverage area in the memory location of the at least one communication device when the second quality characteristic is a higher quality than the first quality characteristic.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first time interval and the third time interval are two transmission frames of a group of transmission frames that are dedicated to providing localized information to the plurality or communication devices, the group of transmission frames constituting a portion of a periodic transmission cycle of transmission frames.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by a second group of broadcast transmission sites during the first time interval, a third signal including a second localized information relating to a second local coverage area, the second group of broadcast transmission sites being a subset of the plurality of broadcast transmission sites and providing a second plurality of broadcast services to the second local coverage area, the second local coverage area being located sufficiently distant from the first local coverage area to enable a communication device of the plurality or communication devices that is located in the second local coverage area to receive the third signal including the second localized information transmitted from the second group of broadcast transmission sites without substantial interference from the first signal including the first localized information transmitted From the first group of broadcast transmission sites.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

disabling, by a third group of broadcast transmission sites of the plurality of broadcast transmission sites servicing local coverage areas other than the first local coverage area and the second local coverage area, a transmitter at each of the broadcast transmission sites of the third group of broadcast transmission sites during the first time interval.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

disabling a transmitter at each of a second group of broadcast transmission sites during the first time interval, the second group of broadcast transmission sites being a subset of the plurality of broadcast transmission sites and providing a second plurality of broadcast services to a second local coverage area that is substantially adjacent to the first local coverage area.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of assigning the at least one communication device a broadcast address and an individual address prior to the transmitting of the first signal step, wherein the first signal including the first localized information further comprises the broadcast address, and further wherein the second signal including the individualized information further comprises the individual address.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first localized information comprises at least one of a local news information, a local traffic information, and a local weather information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first localized information comprises at least one of a voice message and an alphanumeric message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time interval and the second time interval are transmission frames in a periodic cycle of transmission frames and wherein the step of transmitting the first signal including the first localized information comprises the step of:

periodically transmitting, by the first group of broadcast transmission sites during a selected transmission Frame of each periodic cycle of transmission frames, the first signal including the first localized information relating to the first local coverage area.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the at least one communication device, a first received signal including a first received localized information transmitted during a first transmission frame of a first cycle of transmission frames to produce the first received localized information;

storing, by the at least one communication device, the first received localized information in a memory location of the at least one communication device;

receiving, by the at least one communication device, a second received signal including a second received localized information transmitted during the first transmission frame of a second cycle of transmission frames to produce the second received localized information; and

storing, by the at least one communication device, the second received localized information in the memory location of the at least one communication device, such that the second received localized information replaces at least a portion of the first received localized information.

13. In a wide area communication system that includes a plurality of broadcast transmission sites and a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of broadcast transmission sites providing a plurality of broadcast services to the plurality of communication devices throughout the wide area communication system, a method for providing a plurality of localized information to at least one communication device of the plurality of communication devices that is located in a first local coverage area of a plurality of local coverage areas within the wide area communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting, by a first group of broadcast transmission sites, a first signal including a first broadcast address and a first localized information relating to the first local coverage area, the first group of broadcast transmission sites being a subset of the plurality of broadcast transmission sites and providing a first plurality of broadcast services to the first local coverage area, the first broadcast address being assigned For use in the first local coverage area; and

transmitting, by the plurality of broadcast transmission sites, a second signal including an individualized information and an individual address for the at least one communication device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one communication device is located in a second local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas, the method further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by a second group of broadcast transmission sites, a third signal including a second broadcast address and a second localized information relating to the second local coverage area, the second group of broadcast transmission sites being a subset of the plurality of broadcast transmission sites and providing a second plurality of broadcast services to the second local coverage area, the second broadcast address being assigned for use in the second local coverage area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first broadcast address and the second broadcast address are two broadcast addresses of a group of broadcast addresses that are dedicated to providing localized information to the plurality of communication devices.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the at least one communication device, the first signal including the first broadcast address and the first localized information relating to the first local coverage area;

determining, by the at least one communication device, a first quality characteristic of the first signal including the first broadcast address and the first localized information relating to the first local coverage to produce the first quality characteristic;

receiving, by the at least one communication device, the third signal including the second broadcast address and the second localized information relating to the second local coverage;

determining, by the at least one communication device, a second quality characteristic of the third signal including the second broadcast address and the second localized information relating to the second local coverage to produce the second quality characteristic;

comparing, by the at least one communication device, the first quality characteristic and the second quality characteristic;

storing, by the at least one communication device, the First localized information relating to the first local coverage in a memory location of the at least one communication device when the first quality characteristic is a higher quality than the second quality characteristic; and

storing, by the at least one communication device, the second localized information relating to the second local coverage in the memory locution of the at least one communication device when the second quality characteristic is a higher quality than the first quality characteristic.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, by the at least one communication device, the first signal including the first broadcast address and the first localized information relating to the first local coverage area;

storing, by the at Least one communication device, the First localized information relating to the first local coverage area in a memory location of the at least one communication device;

receiving, by the at least one communication device subsequent to reception of the first received localized information, the third signal including the second broadcast address and the second localized information relating to the second local coverage area;

storing, by the at least one communication device, the second localized information relating to the second local coverage area in the memory location of the at least one communication device, such that the second localized information relating to the second local coverage area replaces at least a portion of the first localized information relating to the first local coverage area.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first broadcast address is further assigned for use in a second local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas, the method further comprising the step of:

transmitting, by a second group of broadcast transmission sites, a third signal including the first broadcast address and a second localized information relating to the second local coverage area, the second group of broadcast transmission sites being a subset of the plurality of broadcast transmission sites and providing a second plurality of broadcast services to the second local coverage area, the second local coverage area being located sufficiently distant from the first local coverage area to enable a communication device of the plurality of communication devices that is located in the second local coverage area to receive the third signal including the second localized information transmitted from the second group of broadcast sites without substantial interference from the first signal including the first localized information transmitted from the first group of broadcast sites.

19. In a wide area communication system that includes a plurality of broadcast transmission sites and a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of broadcast transmission sites providing broadcast services to the plurality of communication devices throughout the wide area communication system, a method for a communication device to obtain localized information broadcast to communication devices located in a local coverage area of a plurality of local coverage areas within the wide area communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, during a first time interval, a first signal including a first localized information, the first localized information relating to a first local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas;

storing the first localized information in a first memory location of the communication device;

receiving, during a second time interval, a second signal including a second localized information, the second localized information relating to a second local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas; and

storing the second localized information in the first memory location of the communication device, such that the second localized information replaces al least a portion of the first localized information.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, during at least a third time interval, a third signal including an individualized information; and

storing the individualized information in a second memory location of the communication device.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

prior to the step of storing the second localized information,

determining a first quality characteristic of the first signal including the first localized information and a second quality characteristic of the second signal including the second localized information to produce a first quality characteristic and a second quality characteristic; and

comparing the first quality characteristic and the second quality characteristic,

wherein the step of storing the second localized information comprises the step of storing the second localized information in the first memory location of the communication device when the second quality characteristic of the second signal including the second localized information is a higher quality transmission than the first quality characteristic of the first signal including the first localized in formation.

22. In a wide area communication system that includes a plurality of broadcast transmission sites and a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of broadcast transmission sites providing broadcast services to the plurality of communication devices throughout the wide area communication system, a method for a communication device to retain localized information broadcast to communication devices located in a local coverage area of a plurality of local coverage areas within the wide area communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal including a first broadcast address and a first localized information, wherein the first broadcast address corresponds to a first local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas and wherein the first localized information relates to the first local coverage area;

storing the first localized information in a first memory location of the communication device;

receiving a second signal including a second broadcast address and a second localized information, wherein the second broadcast address corresponds to a second local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas and wherein the second localized information relates to the second local coverage area; and

storing the second localized information in the first memory location, such that the second localized information replaces at least a portion of the first localized information.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps or:

receiving a third signal including an individual address of the communication device and an individualized information; and

storing the individualized information in a second memory location of the communication device.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

prior to the step of storing the second localized information,

determining a first quality characteristic of the first signal including the first localized information and a second quality characteristic of the second signal including the second localized information to the first quality characteristic and the second quality characteristic; and

comparing the first quality characteristic and the second quality characteristic;

wherein the step of storing the second localized information comprises the step of storing the second localized information in the first memory location of the communication device when the second quality characteristic of the second signal including the second localized information is a higher quality transmission than the first quality characteristic of the first signal including the first localized information.

25. A communication device for use in a wide area communication system, the communication device comprising:

a device receiver for receiving, during a first dine interval, a first localized information and, during a second time interval, a second localized information, the first localized information and the second localized information each relating to a respective geographic region of the wide area communication system;

a memory that includes a plurality of memory locations; and

a processor, operably coupled to the memory and the device receiver, for instructing the memory to store the first localized in Formation in a first memory location of the plurality of memory locations upon receipt of the first localized information and for instructing the memory to store the second localized information in the first memory location upon receipt of the second localized information, such that the second localized information replaces at least a portion of the first localized information.

26. The communication device of claim 25, further comprising an information interface coupled to the processor, wherein the processor further instructs the information interface to present to a user of the communication device at least a visual indication that at least one of the first localized information and the second localized information is stored in the memory.

27. The communication device of claim 25, further comprising an alerting device coupled to the processor, wherein the processor further instructs the alerting device to alert a user of the communication device that at least one of the first localized information and the second localized information is stored in the memory.

28. A broadcast transmission site for providing information from at least one information source to a plurality of communication devices located within a geographic coverage area serviced by the broadcast transmission site, the broadcast transmission site comprising:

a transmitter;

an input interface for receiving, from the at least one information source, information to be transmitted by the transmitter; and

a controller, operably coupled to the transmitter and the input interface, for instructing the transmitter to transmit, during a first time interval, a first signal including a localized information relating to the geographic coverage area that is intended for receipt by the plurality of communication devices located within the geographic coverage area and for instructing the transmitter to transmit, during a second time interval, a second signal including am individualized information that is intended for receipt by less than all of the plurality of communication devices regardless of the location relative to the geographic coverage area of the less than all of the plurality of communication devices intended to receive the individualized information.