Location specific event broadcasting
First Claim
1. A method for filtering events, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of events at a client device, wherein at least one event is associated with a location tag that identifies a physical location in a network, the physical location being smaller than an area served by the network;
determining a location of the client device;
forwarding the event to an application in the client device if the location of the client device is within the physical location identified by the location tag;
extracting from the location tag a client topology table identifier, a version number of a client topology table, and the physical location;
determining whether a client topology table corresponding to the client topology table identifier and the version number extracted from the location tag is stored on the client device;
accessing the client topology table from the client device if the client topology table is stored on the client device; and
if the client topology table is not stored on the client device, downloading a current version of the client topology table from a broadcast location manager.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Applications in a broadcast environment distribute events in real-time to a large number of receivers within specified geographic locations while efficiently sharing bandwidth resources with other applications using the same broadcast network. Applications need not be aware of the other applications sharing the resources, nor of the methods, protocols, and other mechanisms used to actually broadcast the data over the broadcast medium. Server-side applications that serve data, send notifications, or distribute events to specific locations within the network use a broadcast location manager. Client applications that receive such data, notifications, or events use a client location filter to obtain events that are relevant based on the location of the device. The broadcast location manager and client location filter work together to reliably and efficiently transmit data, notifications, and events to specific locations over the broadcast network for all applications involved.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for filtering events, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of events at a client device, wherein at least one event is associated with a location tag that identifies a physical location in a network, the physical location being smaller than an area served by the network; determining a location of the client device; forwarding the event to an application in the client device if the location of the client device is within the physical location identified by the location tag; extracting from the location tag a client topology table identifier, a version number of a client topology table, and the physical location; determining whether a client topology table corresponding to the client topology table identifier and the version number extracted from the location tag is stored on the client device; accessing the client topology table from the client device if the client topology table is stored on the client device; and if the client topology table is not stored on the client device, downloading a current version of the client topology table from a broadcast location manager. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for broadcasting events to fine-grained locations in a network, the method comprising:
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identifying a physical location in a network, wherein the physical location is smaller than an area served by the network; mapping the physical location to a network address; identifying a fine-grained location within the physical location, wherein an event is to be distributed to client devices within the fine-grained location; tagging events to be distributed to the fine-grained location with a location restriction such that at least one event is associated with a location tag, the location tag including a client topology table identifier, a version number of a client topology table, and the fine-grained location; broadcasting the events to the physical location via a broadcast distribution network; filtering the events based on the location restriction such that only client devices located within the fine-grained location process the events; and if the client topology table corresponding to the client topology table identifier and the version number of the location tag is not stored at a client device, providing a current version of the client topology table to the client device for access by the client device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A system for broadcasting events to fine-grained locations in a network, the system comprising:
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a broadcast location manager installed on a server, the broadcast location manager comprising; a policy manager configured to define a physical location in a network to which events are broadcast, wherein the physical location is smaller than an area served by the network, the policy manager being further configured to define a fine-grained location within the physical location, wherein an event is to be distributed to client devices within the fine-grained location; a topology manager configured to generate a client topology table which includes a mapping of location tags to physical locations in the network, wherein each physical location is identified by a network address; an intake manager configured to provide an event to be distributed to the fine-grained location with a location tag; and a broadcast manager configured to broadcast events to the physical location; and a client location filter installed on a client device and coupled to the broadcast location manager by a broadcast distribution network, the client location filter comprising; a client topology table manager configured to, at least; extract from the location tag a client topology table identifier, a version number of the client topology table, and the fine-grained location; determine whether a copy of the client topology table corresponding to the client topology table identifier and the version number extracted from the location tag is stored on the client device; access the copy of the client topology table from the client device if the copy of the client topology table is stored on the client device; and if the copy of the client topology table is not stored on the client device, downloading a current version of the client topology table from the broadcast location manager; and an event filter configured to determine whether the client device is located in the fine-grained location based on the location tag and the client topology table; wherein the event is forwarded to the corresponding application in the client device when the client device is located in the fine-grained area of the network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for broadcasting events to locations in a network, the method comprising:
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identifying a physical location in a network, wherein the physical location is smaller than an area served by the network; tagging events such that at least one event is associated with a location tag, the location tag including a client topology table identifier, a version number of a client topology table, and the physical location; mapping the physical location to a plurality of network addresses; and broadcasting events to client devises in the physical location via a broadcast distribution network; and if the client topology table corresponding to the client topology table identifier and the version number of the location tag is not stored at a client device, providing a current version of the client topology table to the client device for access by the client device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification