Cellular broadcasting Media

• US 7,324,810 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ziv Nave, Zvika Nave
• Original Assignee: Ziv Nave, Zvika Nave
• Inventors: Nave, Zvika, Nave, Ziv
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh; Chuck
• Application Number:
  US10/131,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,105 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/414.1, 455/500, 455/3.02, 455/3.04
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

A system and method for providing a new commercial data broadcasting media (CBM) that uses the intrinsic RF relay mechanism of the existing cellular phone network infrastructure to broadcast data to consumer masses. The system can be used to enable broadcasting of data to a large number of subscribers in specific geographical areas who are equipped with electronic devices that receive the data from the cellular base station transmitter and display it. Subscribers are provided with End User Terminals (EUT) that are characterized by identical phone numbers and service provider details. These EUTs can follow the handshake procedure between a cellular base station and a Cellular Stimulator (CS) unit that belongs to the CBM, such that following a handshake procedure between the CS and a cellular base station, all the EUT units that are in the proximity of the base station receive any data that is transmitted from the base station to the CS.

Claims

1. A system for broadcasting data and displaying the data, the system using a cellular communications network, the system comprising:

a cellular base station and a cellular telephone of the cellular communications network, the cellular telephone being configured as a cellular stimulation (CS) unit;

wherein the cellular stimulation (CS) unit has a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with said cellular base station, and during said communicating said CS unit receives radio communications only from said cellular base station, wherein said CS unit has a cellular identification within the cellular communications network, wherein said cellular base station communicates using a handshake procedure with said CS unit;

a plurality of End User Terminals (EUTs), each said EUT having an EUT receiver which only receives said radio communications from said cellular base station,—

said EUTs having the same cellular identification in said cellular network as said CS unit for receiving said radio communications wherein each said EUT has no transmitter for transmitting to the cellular base station; and

a Central Control Unit (CCU) operatively attached to but not part of the cellular communications network, wherein said CCU calls said CS unit thereby initiating said radio communications, whereupon said cellular base station performs said handshake procedure solely with said CS unit and not with said EUTs, wherein said handshake procedure is received by said EUT receivers, whereupon completing said handshake procedure, said CCU transmits the data to said CS unit, and thereby broadcasts the data to said EUTs, wherein the data are received as said radio communications by said End User Terminals for displaying at least a portion of the data at said EUTs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said EUTs are selected from at least one of the group of device types consisting of hand held calendars, hand held phone books, electronic clocks, home inventory management units, air condition remote control units, remote controls, car information displays, home entertainment devices, home appliances, kitchen appliances, musical instruments, commercial advertisement displays, parking meters, electronic bus and train displays, billboards, clip on diaries for cellular phones and paging units.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said CS unit further comprises a control unit for enabling remote operation of said CS unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said CCU further comprises a control component for remotely operating said CS unit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said control component enables an operator of said CCU to target communication of data to said cellular stimulation unit, thereby communicating said data to said End User Terminals in the proximity of said cellular stimulation unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said CCU further comprises a communication component for initiating communication with said CS unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said CCU further comprises application software for designing data to be sent to said EUTs.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said CCU further comprises a database component for storing system data.

9. A method for broadcasting data and displaying the data at a plurality of points of sale using a cellular communications network including a cellular base station and a cellular telephone of the cellular communications network, method comprising the steps of:

configuring the cellular telephone as a cellular stimulation (CS) unit;

wherein the cellular stimulation (CS) unit has a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with said cellular base station, and during said communicating said CS unit receives radio communications only from said cellular base station, wherein said CS unit has a cellular identification within the cellular communications network, wherein said cellular base station communicates uses a handshake procedure with said CS unit;

providing a plurality of End User Terminals (EUTs), each said EUT having an EUT receiver which only receives said radio communications from said cellular base station, said EUTs having the same cellular identification in said cellular network as said CS unit for receiving said radio communications, wherein each said EUT has no transmitter for transmitting to the cellular base station;

calling said CS unit from a Central Control Unit (CCU), wherein said CCU is operatively attached to but not part of the cellular communications network, whereby said calling initiates said radio communications, whereupon said cellular base station performs said handshake procedure solely with said CS unit and not with said EUTs, wherein said handshake procedure is received by said EUT receivers;

upon completing said handshake procedure, transmitting by said CCU the data to said CS unit, and thereby broadcasting the data to said EUTs, wherein the data as said radio communications are received by said End User Terminals; and

displaying at least a portion of the data in the points of sale respectively attached to said EUTs.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said calling said CS unit further comprises the step of remotely initiating operation of said CS unit, thereby enabling said radio communications with said CS unit.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said calling enables said radio communications with a plurality of said CS units, said plurality of CS units being active simultaneously in separate cellular networks.

12. A method for broadcasting data to a plurality of subscribers, using a cellular communications network including a cellular base station and a cellular telephone of the cellular communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

configuring the cellular telephone as a cellular stimulation (CS) unit;

wherein the cellular stimulation (CS) unit has a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with said cellular base station, and during said communicating said CS unit receives radio communications only from said cellular base station, wherein said CS unit has a cellular identification within the cellular communications network, wherein said cellular base station communicates uses a handshake procedure with said CS unit;

providing a plurality of End User Terminal EUTs to the subscribers, each said EUT having an EUT receiver which only receives said radio communications from said cellular base station, said EUTs having the same cellular identification in said cellular network as said CS unit for receiving said radio communications, wherein each said EUT has no transmitter for transmitting to the cellular base station;

calling said CS unit from a Central Control Unit (CCU), wherein said CCU is operatively attached to but not part of the cellular communications network, whereby said calling initiates said radio communication whereupon said cellular base station performs said handshake procedure solely with said CS unit and not with said EUTs, wherein said handshake procedure is received by said EUT receivers;

upon completing said handshake procedure, transmitting by said CCU the data to said CS unit, and thereby broadcasting the data to said EUTs, wherein the data as said radio communications are received by said End User Terminals; and

displaying at least a portion of said data by said EUTs to said subscribers.

13. A method for broadcasting data to a plurality of users, wherein the users are identified by a plurality of user types, the method using a cellular communications network including a cellular base station and a cellular telephone of the cellular communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

configuring the cellular telephone as a cellular stimulation (CS) unit;

wherein the cellular stimulation (CS) unit has a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with said cellular base station, and during said communicating said CS unit receives radio communications only from said cellular base station, wherein said CS unit has a cellular identification within the cellular communications network, wherein said cellular base station communicates uses a handshake procedure with said CS unit;

providing a plurality of End User Terminal (EUT) to the users, each said EUT having an EUT receiver which only receives said radio communications from said cellular base station, said EUTs having the same cellular identification in said cellular network as said CS unit for receiving said radio communications, wherein each said EUT has no transmitter for transmitting to the cellular base station;

wherein said EUTs are further identified by one of the user types;

calling said CS unit from a Central Control Unit (CCU), wherein said CCU is operatively attached to a Central Control Unit (CCU) operatively attached to but not part of the cellular communications network, whereby said calling initiates said radio communications, whereupon said cellular base station performs said handshake procedure solely with said CS unit and not with said EUTs, wherein said handshake procedure is received by said EUT receivers;

upon completing said handshake procedure, transmitting by said CCU the data to said CS unit, and thereby broadcasting the data to said EUTs, wherein the data as said radio communications are received by said End User Terminals; and

displaying at least a portion of said data by said EUTs to the users wherein said portion is based on said one user type.

14. A method for updating product data in real time at a plurality of points of sale, the method using a cellular communications network including a cellular base station and a cellular telephone, the method comprising the steps of:

configuring the cellular telephone as a cellular stimulation (CS) unit;

wherein the cellular stimulation (CS) unit has a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with said cellular base station, and during said communicating said CS unit receives radio communications only from said cellular base station, wherein said CS unit has a cellular identification within the cellular communications network, wherein said cellular base station communicates uses a handshake procedure with said CS unit;

operatively attaching at least one End User Terminal (EUT) respectively to at least one of the points-of-sale, said at least one EUT having an EUT receiver which only receives said radio communications from said cellular base station said at least one EUT having the same cellular identification in said cellular network as said CS unit for receiving said radio communications, wherein said at least one EUT has no transmitter for transmitting to the cellular base station;

wherein said at least one EUT is further identified by an identification code corresponding to the at least one point-of-sale;

calling said CS unit from a Central Control Unit (CCU), wherein said CCU is operatively attached to but not art of the cellular communications network, whereby said calling initiates said radio communications, whereupon said cellular base station performs said handshake procedure solely with said CS unit and not with said EUTs, wherein said handshake procedure is received by said EUT receivers;

upon completing said handshake procedure, transmitting by said CCU the data to said CS unit, and thereby broadcasting the data to said at least one EUT, wherein the data as said radio communication are received by said at least one End User Terminal; and

displaying at least a portion of the product data by said at least one EUT at said at least one point-of-sale, said onion based on said identification code.

15. A method for providing a paging service to a plurality of users, using a cellular communications network including a cellular base station and a cellular telephone, the method comprising the steps of:

configuring the cellular telephone as a cellular stimulation (CS) unit;

wherein the cellular stimulation (CS) unit has a transmitter and a receiver for communicating with said cellular base station, and during said communicating said CS unit receives radio communications only from said cellular base station, wherein said CS unit has a cellular identification within the cellular communications network, wherein said cellular base station communicates uses a handshake procedure with said CS unit;

providing at least one End User Terminal (EUT) respectively to at least one of the users, said at least one EUT having an EUT receiver which only receives said radio communications from said cellular base station, said at least one EUT having the same cellular identification in said cellular network as said CS unit for receiving said radio communications, wherein said at least one EUT has no transmitter for transmitting to the cellular base station;

wherein said at least one EUT is further identified by an identification code corresponding to the at least one user;

calling said CS unit from a Central Control Unit (CCU), wherein said CCU is operatively attached to but not art of the cellular communications network, whereby said calling initiates said radio communications, whereupon said cellular base station performs said handshake procedure solely with said CS unit and not with said EUTs, wherein said handshake procedure is received by said EUT receivers;

upon completing said handshake procedure transmitting by said CCU the data to said CS unit, and thereby broadcasting the data to said at least one EUT, wherein the data as said radio communications are received by said at least one End User Terminal; and

displaying at least a portion of said data by said at least one EUT, wherein said portion is based on said at least one identification code corresponding to the at least one user.