Broadcast/multicast service method based on user location information

• US 8,064,420 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Han, Kyu-Sung, Shim, Dong-Hee, Shon, Min-Jung, Son, Sung-Mu
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US12/366,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20090147721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 455/466, 4554121-4122, 4554141-4143, 455418-420, 370/338, 370/328, 370/312, 370/432
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 method and device for receiving a broadcast/multicast service as discussed. According to an embodiment, the invention provides a method of receiving a broadcast/multicast service by a terminal, the method comprising: receiving a service guide from a network including a broadcast/multicast server, the service guide being used by a user to select specific contents related to a broadcast/multicast service; transmitting information on the contents selected by the user, to the network; transmitting a content request to the network; and receiving contents from the network in response to the content request, wherein the received contents were further selected, among the contents selected by the user, by the broadcast/multicast server that performed an exact location tracking of the terminal to enable location based filtering of services corresponding to the contents selected by the user.

Claims

1. A method of receiving a broadcast/multicast service by a terminal, the method comprising:

receiving a service guide from a network including a broadcast/multicast server, the service guide being used by a user to select specific contents related to a broadcast/multicast service,

wherein the service guide includes service-available area information that allows for location based filtering of services based on areas in which the broadcast/multicast service is available;

transmitting information on the contents selected by the user to the network;

transmitting a content request to the network to allow the location based filtering of services based on the areas; and

receiving contents from the network in response to the content request,

wherein the received contents were further selected, among the contents selected by the user, by the broadcast/multicast server that performed an exact location tracking of the terminal to enable the location based filtering of services corresponding to the contents selected by the user,

wherein the received contents were filtered by the broadcast/multicast server according to an exact current location of the terminal, upon cooperating with a location server to process location information regarding the terminal, or upon performing the exact location tracking of the terminal with the location server connected with a contents provider, and

wherein the receiving of the service guide, the transmitting of the information on the contents, the transmitting of the content request, and the receiving of the contents are performed by cooperation between the broadcast/multicast server that utilizes location information in Mobile Location Protocol (MLP) format and the terminal that supports use of location information in the MLP format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received service guide contains information related to at least one among a group of information comprising:

broadcast areas, target areas, horizontal accuracy, geographic area shapes, country codes, geopolitical area names, postal zip codes, service areas, services lists, terminal identifications, user settings, proprietary elements, and application-specific elements.

3. A terminal for receiving a broadcast/multicast service, the terminal comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals through a network; and

a client module configured to cooperate with the transceiver and to;

receive a service guide from the network including a broadcast/multicast server, the service guide being used by a user to select specific contents related to a broadcast/multicast service, wherein the service guide includes service-available area information that allows for location based filtering of services based on areas in which the broadcast/multicast service is available;

transmit information on the contents selected by the user, to the network;

transmit a content request to the network to allow the location based filtering of services based on the areas; and

receive contents from the network in response to the content request,

wherein the received contents were further selected, among the contents selected by the user, by the broadcast/multicast server that performed an exact location tracking of the terminal to enable the location based filtering of services corresponding to the contents selected by the user,

wherein the received contents were filtered by the broadcast/multicast server according to an exact current location of the terminal, upon cooperating with a location server to process location information regarding the terminal, or upon performing the exact location tracking of the terminal with the location server connected with a contents provider, and

wherein to receive the service guide, to transmit the information on the contents, to transmit the content request, and to receive the contents, the broadcast/multicast server that utilizes location information in Mobile Location Protocol (MLP) format and the terminal that supports use of location information in the MLP format cooperate with each other.

4. The terminal of claim 3, wherein the received service guide contains information related to at least one among a group of information comprising:

broadcast areas, target areas, horizontal accuracy, geographic area shapes, country codes, geopolitical area names, postal zip codes, service areas, services lists, terminal identifications, user settings, proprietary elements, and application-specific elements.