Method, apparatus, and system for transmitting messages

• US 8,208,946 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Alan Andrew, Parekh, Devan, Staddon, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Magloire, Vladimir
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US11/492,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,164 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/426.1, 455/435.3, 455/440, 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/466, 455/412.1, 455/512, 455/521, 455405-406, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/459, 455/412.2, 709/230, 709206-207, 709/201
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A subscriber unit, for a cellular communication system, is arranged to store data representing a message to be transmitted together with data representing specified conditions associated with the transmission of the message. The subscriber unit responds to the specified conditions being met by transmitting the message. The specified conditions may be dictated by the network or by the user of the subscriber unit or by a combination of the two, and include time, date, location, and network loading.

Claims

1. A subscriber unit for a cellular communication system, comprising:

a user interface for receiving a user generated message and a specified geographic condition for the transmission of the user generated message, wherein the specified geographic condition requires that the user generated message be transmitted by the subscriber unit when the subscriber unit is within a specified location;

memory configured to store data representing the user generated message together with data representing the specified geographic condition associated with the transmission of the user generated message;

a monitor configured to monitor a current location of the subscriber unit;

a comparing unit configured to compare the specified geographic condition to a current condition of the subscriber unit to determine when the specified geographic condition is met; and

a data processing unit configured to transmit over a radio link with a wireless network the stored user generated message when the monitor component determines that the associated specified geographic condition is met.

2. The subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein the specified geographic condition includes a time, the monitor is further configured to monitor a time of day.

3. The subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein the specified geographic condition includes a day, and the monitor is further configured to monitor a date as a part of the current condition.

4. The subscriber unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals from a cellular network; and

a processor for decoding the received signals to extract data therefrom, for responding to the data when the extracted data represents control information, and for storing the data when the extracted data represents a message.

5. The subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein the user interface is responsive to a processor, for outputting an indication of arrival of a message.

6. The subscriber unit of claim 5, wherein the processor is responsive to user manipulation of the user interface to generate another message for transmission.

7. The subscriber unit of claim 6, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting messages stored in the message store over a network; and

wherein the processor is operable to transfer the data from the memory to the transmitter for transmission thereby.

8. The subscriber unit of claim 5, wherein the user interface comprises a display for displaying messages and a keypad.

9. The subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein the monitor further comprises a position processor for processing position signals received by a receiver to determine the current location of the subscriber unit.

10. The subscriber unit of claim 9, further comprising a separate position data receiver for receiving the position data.

11. The subscriber unit of claim 10, further comprising a position database in which position data representing the current location of the subscriber unit is stored.

12. The subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein the data processing unit is configured to transmit the stored user generated message based at least in part on one or more conditions specified by a network.

13. The subscriber unit of claim 1, further comprising:

a placebook database for storing position information for a plurality of locations, wherein the position information includes position coordinates for each of the plurality of locations and an identifier for the plurality of locations.

14. The subscriber unit of claim 13, wherein the information for the placebook is preloaded.

15. The subscriber unit of claim 14, wherein the user interface is further configured to receive an identifier for the current location of the subscriber unit, and the placebook database is configured to store the position information and the corresponding identifier in the placebook database at the subscriber unit.

16. The subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a second condition to delay downloading of a file from the network until a specified time, and the processing unit is configured to delay downloading of the data until the specified time.

17. A method of preparing a message for transmission in a cellular communication system, comprising:

receiving a user generated message and a specified geographic condition at a user interface of a subscriber unit, wherein the specified geographic condition requires that the user generated message be transmitted by the subscriber unit when the subscriber unit is within a specified location;

storing data representing the user generated message in the subscriber unit together with data representing the specified geographic condition associated with the transmission of the user generated message;

monitoring a current location of the subscriber unit;

comparing the specified geographic condition to a current condition of the subscriber unit to determine when the specified geographic condition is met; and

transmitting over a radio link with a wireless network the user generated message when the specified geographic condition is met.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the specified geographic condition includes a time, and the method further comprises monitoring a time of day.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the specified geographic condition includes a day, and the method further comprises monitoring a date.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving signals from a cellular network;

decoding the received signals to extract data therefrom;

responding to the data when the extracted data represents control information; and

storing the data when the extracted data represents a message.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising outputting an indication of arrival of a message.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising processing received position signals to determine the current location of the subscriber unit.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising storing position data representing the current location of the subscriber unit.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising enabling a network to specify the conditions.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

storing position information for a plurality of locations in a placebook database at the subscriber unit, wherein the position information includes position coordinates for the plurality of locations and an identifier for the plurality of locations.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the information for the placebook is preloaded.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving an identifier for the current location of the subscriber unit and storing the position information and the corresponding identifier in the placebook database at the subscriber unit.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving input to delay the downloading of a file from the network until a second specified condition is met; and

delaying downloading the file from the network until the second condition is met.

29. A method of transmitting a message in a cellular network, the method comprising:

generating message data at a subscriber unit, the message data representing a message to be transmitted;

storing the message data at the subscriber unit;

receiving, at the subscriber unit, condition data defining one or more specified conditions associated with the transmission, by the subscriber unit, of the message represented by the message data, wherein the condition data is defined in terms of the load on the cellular network;

storing the condition data in association with the message data;

monitoring loading on the cellular network;

determining when loading on the cellular network satisfies the condition data; and

transmitting, by the subscriber unit, the message represented by the message data when said one or more specified conditions are satisfied.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the specified conditions include a time, and the method further comprises:

monitoring a time of day.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the determining when loading on the cellular network satisfies the condition data comprises determining that loading on the cellular network is low.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the specified conditions include a day, and the method further comprises:

monitoring a date.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the specified conditions include a location, and the method further comprises monitoring the location of the subscriber unit.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising enabling a user of the unit to specify the conditions.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising enabling a network to specify the conditions.

36. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving, at the subscriber unit, a periodic network-loading information message from the cellular network.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving input to delay the downloading of a file from the network until a second specified condition is met; and

delaying downloading the file from the network until the second condition is met.

38. An apparatus for transmitting a message in a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:

means for generating message data at a subscriber unit, the message data representing a message to be transmitted;

means for storing the message data at the subscriber unit;

means for receiving, at the subscriber unit, condition data defining one or more specified conditions associated with the transmission of the message represented by the message data by the subscriber unit, wherein the condition data is defined in terms of the load on the cellular network;

means for storing the condition data in association with the message data;

means for monitoring the loading on the cellular network;

means for determining when loading on the cellular network satisfies the condition data; and

means for transmitting, by the subscriber unit, the message represented by the message data when said one or more specified conditions are satisfied.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the specified conditions include a time, and the apparatus further comprises:

means for monitoring a time of day.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the means for determining when loading on the cellular network satisfies the condition data determines that loading on the cellular network is low.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the specified conditions include a day, and the apparatus further comprises:

means for monitoring a date.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the specified conditions include a location, and the apparatus further comprises means for monitoring the location of the subscriber unit.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising specifying means for enabling the conditions to be specified by a user of the unit.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising means responsive to conditions specified by a network.

45. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a periodic network-loading information message from the cellular network.

46. A method of transmitting a message in a cellular network, the method comprising:

receiving a status message from a subscriber unit, the status message including the information regarding a message stored at the subscriber unit, the information including a size of the message and a specified condition for the transmission of the message for the subscriber unit;

storing the size and the specified condition of the message to be transmitted from the status message;

determining at the network when sufficient resources become available to upload the message stored at the subscriber unit to the network based on the network load level and the size of the message;

when sufficient resources are available at the network, uploading the message to be transmitted from the subscriber unit;

storing the message at the network;

associating the specified condition with the message;

determining when the specified condition has been met;

when the specified condition has been met, transmitting the message.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

transmitting an upload acknowledgement to the subscriber unit after uploading the message.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

clearing the stored message after transmitting the message.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

receiving instructions to delay transmission of a file from the network to the subscriber unit until a second specified condition is met; and

delaying downloading the file to the subscriber unit until the second specified condition is met.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the specified condition is an intended delivery time.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the cellular network includes a plurality of cells, the method further comprising:

monitoring an amount of data for transmission in each of the plurality of cells; and

computing the total outstanding amount of data for transmission in each of the plurality of cells in order to determine when sufficient resources are available at the network.

52. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

transmitting a protocol message to the subscriber unit over a control channel when the cellular network has determined that sufficient resources are available in order to prompt the subscriber unit to upload at least a part of the message to the network.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the control channel comprises at least one of a paging channel or a broadcast channel.

54. The method of claim 46, wherein the status message further includes an identifier of the type of data in the message, the method further comprising:

receiving status messages regarding messages from a plurality of subscriber units;

determining the amount of data and types of data at the plurality of subscriber units; and

when sufficient resources become available, determining to upload a message from one selected subscriber unit from among the plurality of subscriber units based on the amount of data at the selected subscriber unit or the type of data at the selected subscriber unit.

55. The method of claim 46, the method further comprising:

receiving status messages regarding messages from a plurality of subscriber units; and

when sufficient resources become available, determining to upload a message from one selected subscriber unit from among the plurality of subscriber units based on at least one of a channel in a cell to which the selected subscriber unit is assigned, a sector in a cell to which the selected subscriber unit is assigned, a cell to which the selected subscriber unit is assigned, or a subscription for the selected subscriber unit.

56. An apparatus for transmitting a message in a cellular network, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a status message from a subscriber unit, the status message including the information regarding a message stored at the subscriber unit, the information including a size of the message and a specified condition for the transmission of the message for the subscriber unit;

memory for storing the size and the specified condition of the message to be transmitted from the status message;

a determining unit for determining at the network when sufficient resources become available to upload the message stored at the subscriber unit to the network based on the network load level and the size of the message, and when sufficient resources are available at the network, initiating an upload of the message to be transmitted from the subscriber unit and storing the message at the network with an association to the specified condition; and

a transmitter for transmitting the message once the network determines that the specified condition has been met.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising:

an acknowledgement unit for initiating the transmission of an upload acknowledgement to the subscriber unit after uploading the message.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the network is configured to clear the stored message from the memory after transmitting the message.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the specified condition is an intended delivery time.

60. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the cellular network includes a plurality of cells, the method further comprising:

a monitor for monitoring an amount of data for transmission in each of the plurality of cells and computing the total outstanding amount of data for transmission in each of the plurality of cells in order to determine when sufficient resources are available at the network.

61. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising a control channel for transmitting a protocol message to the subscriber unit when the cellular network has determined that sufficient resources are available in order to prompt the subscriber unit to upload at least a part of the message to the network.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the control channel comprises at least one of a paging channel or a broadcast channel.

63. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the status message further includes an identifier of the type of data in the message;

wherein the receiver is configured to receive a plurality of status messages regarding messages from a plurality of subscriber units; and

wherein the determining unit is further configured to determine the amount of data and types of data at the plurality of subscriber units and, when sufficient resources become available, to determine to upload a message from one selected subscriber unit from among the plurality of subscriber units based on the amount of data at the selected subscriber unit or the type of data at the selected subscriber unit.

64. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a plurality of status messages regarding messages from a plurality of subscriber units;

and

wherein the determining unit is configured to determine to upload a message from one selected subscriber unit from among the plurality of subscriber units based on at least one of a channel in a cell to which the selected subscriber unit is assigned, a sector in a cell to which the selected subscriber unit is assigned, a cell to which the selected subscriber unit is assigned, or a subscription for the selected subscriber unit, when sufficient resources become available.

65. A subscriber unit for a cellular communication system, comprising:

means for receiving a user generated message and a specified geographic condition for the transmission of the message, wherein the specified geographic condition requires that the user generated message be transmitted by the subscriber unit when the subscriber unit is within a specified location;

means for storing data representing the user generated message together with data representing the specified geographic condition associated with the transmission of the user generated message;

means for monitoring a current location of the subscriber unit;

means for comparing the specified geographic condition to a current condition of the subscriber unit to determine when the specified geographic condition is met; and

means for transmitting over a radio link with a wireless network the stored user generated message when the monitor component determines that the associated specified geographic condition is met.

66. An apparatus for transmitting a message in a cellular network, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface for generating message data at a subscriber unit, the message data representing a message to be transmitted and for receiving condition data defining one or more specified conditions associated with the transmission, by the subscriber unit, of the message represented by the message data, wherein the condition data is defined in terms of the load on the cellular network;

memory for storing the message data for storing the condition data in association with the message data at the subscriber unit;

a monitor for monitoring loading on the cellular network;

a determining unit for determining when loading on the cellular network satisfies the condition data; and

a transmitter for transmitting, by the subscriber unit, the message represented by the message data when said one or more specified conditions are satisfied.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a periodic network-loading information message from the cellular network.

68. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a second condition to delay downloading of a file from the network until a second specified condition is met, and the determining unit is configured to determine when the second specified condition is met.

69. An apparatus for transmitting a message in a cellular network, comprising:

means for receiving a status message from a subscriber unit, the status message including the information regarding a message stored at the subscriber unit, the information including a size of the message and a specified condition for the transmission of the message for the subscriber unit;

means for storing the size and the specified condition of the message to be transmitted from the status message;

means for determining at the network when sufficient resources become available to upload the message stored at the subscriber unit to the network based on the network load level and the size of the message, and when sufficient resources are available at the network initiating an upload of the message to be transmitted from the subscriber unit and storing the message at the network with an association to the specified condition; and

means for transmitting the message once the network determines that the specified condition has been met.