Method and system for targeted broadcasting

• US 7,139,586 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heeschen, David R., Kreitzer, Stuart S., Shemelynce, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ajibade-Akonai, Olumide
• Application Number:
  US11/026,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20060148467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/458, 455/426.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/518, 455/519, 455/520, 455/186.1, 455/526, 455/416, 379/114
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A system (20) of targeted broadcasting in a cellular communication system during an event can include at least one mobile unit (25) having stored therein scheduling information relating to an event, a designated location for the event, and a designated group channel for monitoring such event. The mobile unit can further be programmed to monitor (67) for the event in a designated location and on a designated group channel during a predetermined time window and receive (71) a targeted message during the event on the designated group channel if a current location of the mobile unit matches the designated location stored. The mobile unit can be programmed to transmit at least one group call message response in response to receiving the group call message only when the mobile unit is in the designated location. The system can further include fixed network equipment (26) that transmits data related to the event.

Claims

1. A system of targeted broadcasting in a cellular communication system during an event, comprising:

at least one mobile unit having stored therein scheduling information relating to an event, a designated location for the event, and a designated group channel for monitoring such event, wherein the at least one mobile unit is programmed to;

receive and store the scheduling information relating to the event, the designated location information, and the designated group channel to monitor for receipt of a targeted broadcast;

monitor for at least one among the event, the designated location information, and the designated group channel during a predetermined time window; and

receive a targeted message during the event on the designated group channel when a current location of the at least one mobile unit matches the designated location information stored.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises fixed network equipment transmitting data related to the event, wherein the fixed network equipment is coupled to a server providing data related to the event and wherein the fixed network equipment further comprises a processor programmed to:

broadcast a group call message to the plurality of mobile units and a plurality of other mobile units;

receive at least one group call message response from one among the plurality of mobile units;

broadcast group call data related to the event to designated locations among locations where the group call message response was transmitted from among the plurality of mobile units.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the system further comprises a application services gateway that provides a data overlay for a group call enabling a voice channel to be used as a data channel.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the fixed network equipment, in addition to the group call message, transmits at least one among voice call, packet data, and push-to-talk over cellular communication type calls.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one among the plurality of mobile units are programmed to transmit at least one group call message response in response to receiving the group call message only when the at least one mobile unit is in the designated location.

6. A system for sending targeted broadcasts on a cellular communication system having a plurality of mobile units having stored therein scheduling information relating to an event, a designated location for the event, and a group channel for monitoring such event, the system comprising:

fixed network equipment transmitting data related to the event, wherein the fixed network equipment is coupled to a server providing data related to the event and wherein the fixed network equipment further comprises a processor programmed to;

broadcast a group call message to the plurality of mobile units and a plurality of other mobile units;

receive at least one group call message response from one among the plurality of mobile units; and

broadcast group call data related to the event to designated locations among locations where the group call message response was transmitted from among the plurality of mobile units.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system further comprises a application services gateway that provides a data overlay for a group call enabling a voice channel to be used as a data channel.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the fixed network equipment, in addition to the group call message, transmits at least one among voice call, packet data, and push-to-talk over cellular communication type calls.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the fixed network equipment is programmed to transmit duplicate packets of the group call data related to the event.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the designated location for the event corresponds to at least one predetermined cell designated to cover the event.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one predetermined cell designated to cover the event transmits a cell identifier.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one among the plurality of mobile units are programmed to transmit at least one group call message response in response to receiving the group call message only when the at least one mobile unit is in the designated location.

13. A method of targeted broadcasting in a cellular communication system during an event, comprising the steps at a mobile cellular unit of:

receiving and storing scheduling information relating to the event, designated location information, and a designated group channel to monitor for receipt of such targeted broadcast;

monitoring for at least one among the event, the designated location information, and the designated group channel during a predetermined time window; and

receiving a targeted message during the event on the designated group channel when a current location matches the designated location information stored.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the step of transmitting a group call response in response to receiving a group call page request only when the mobile cellular unit is a location matching the designated location information.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of receiving the targeted message on the designated group channel comprises receiving the targeted message only in a set of designated cell locations after at least one among a group of mobile cellular units provides a group call response in a cell among the set of designated cell locations.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of receiving a targeted message comprises receiving a half-duplex group call.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprise the step of determining the current location by performing one among the steps of monitoring a control channel for a location identifier and monitoring a GPS receiver for GPS information.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the step of ignoring the targeted message if the mobile cellular unit'"'"'s current location fails to match the designated location information.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of receiving the targeted message is received in segmented portions over a period of time.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the step of optionally enabling a user to opt-out of receiving the targeted message by de-affiliating from the designated group channel.