Wireless communication network having a broadcast system for information distribution

• US 8,467,812 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Steer, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour, Melody
• Application Number:
  US13/559,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20130031207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 455/458, 455/457, 455/99, 455/456, 455/412, 455/466, 455/3.01, 455/450, 455/3.06, 455/436, 455/515, 455/426.1, 455/62, 455/89, 455/73, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/33.1, 455/38.1, 455/186.1, 455/414.1, 455/513, 455/3.04, 455/411, 370/241, 379/57, 379/391, 379/209, 379/100, 379/63, 709/209, 709/207, 709/220, 709/232, 709/103, 704/270.1
• US Class Current: 455/458
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information

Abstract

Methods of performing communication among a group of user terminals in a communication network are described herein. The method includes, a first user terminal receiving at least one stream of media data packets, and the first user terminal decoding the received media data packets. Each received media data packet includes a source user terminal indicator indicating a user terminal from which the packet data stream was transmitted; The decoding includes eliminating any media data packets that include a source user terminal indicator indicating the first user terminal before decoding the received media data packets.

Claims

1. A method of performing communication among a group of user terminals in a communication network, comprising:

a first user terminal receiving at least one stream of media data packets, each received media data packet comprising a source user terminal indicator indicating a user terminal from which the packet data stream was transmitted; and

the first user terminal decoding the received media data packets, wherein said decoding comprises eliminating any media data packets comprising a source user terminal indicator indicating the first user terminal before decoding the received media data packets.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to said receiving, transmitting a stream of media data packets, including the media packets eliminated in said decoding.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the stream of media data packets comprises the source user terminal indicator indicating the first user terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving is performed in a common communication channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving is performed using a broadcast communication channel that is separate from two-way communication channels provided by the communication network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the media data packets comprise information selected from the group consisting of audio, text messages, data messages and imagery.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media data packets comprise speech information.

8. A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for performing communication among a group of user terminals in a communication network, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor of a first user terminal to:

receive at least one stream of media data packets, each received media data packet comprising a source user terminal indicator indicating a user terminal from which the packet data stream was transmitted; and

decode the received media data packets, wherein said decoding comprises eliminating any media data packets comprising a source user terminal indicator indicating the first user terminal before decoding the received media data packets.

9. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

prior to said receiving, transmit a stream of media data packets, including the media packets eliminated in said decoding.

10. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 9, wherein the stream of media data packets comprises the source user terminal indicator indicating the first user terminal.

11. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 8, wherein said receiving is performed in a common communication channel.

12. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 9, wherein said receiving is performed using a broadcast communication channel that is separate from two-way communication channels provided by the communication network.

13. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 8, wherein the media data packets comprise information selected from the group consisting of audio, text messages, data messages and imagery.

14. The non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 8, wherein the media data packets comprise speech information.

15. A user terminal configured to perform communication among a group of user terminals in a communication network, comprising:

wireless circuitry, configured to perform wireless transmission and reception; and

processing logic coupled to the wireless circuitry, wherein the processing logic is configured to;

receive at least one stream of media data packets using the wireless circuitry, each received media data packet comprising a source user terminal indicator indicating a user terminal from which the packet data stream was transmitted; and

decode the received media data packets, wherein said decoding comprises eliminating any media data packets comprising a source user terminal indicator indicating the user terminal before decoding the received media data packets.

16. The user terminal of claim 15, wherein the processing logic is further configured to:

prior to said receiving, transmit a stream of media data packets using the wireless circuitry, including the media packets eliminated in said decoding.

17. The user terminal of claim 16, wherein the stream of media data packets comprises the source user terminal indicator indicating the user terminal.

18. The user terminal of claim 16, wherein said receiving is performed in a common communication channel.

19. The user terminal of claim 16, wherein said receiving is performed using a broadcast communication channel that is separate from two-way communication channels provided by the communication network.

20. The user terminal of claim 16, wherein the media data packets comprise information selected from the group consisting of audio, text messages, data messages and imagery.

21. The user terminal of claim 16, wherein the media data packets comprise speech information.