Signalling of cell ID in digital mobile broadcast service guide for localized broadcasting

• US 8,640,173 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Seppl, Martta
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasraian, Allahyar
• Application Number:
  US11/470,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,701 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/456.3, 725/39, 725/44, 725/62
• US Class Current: 725/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/103 Transmitter-side switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/16 on playing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/17 on recording information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/19 on transmission of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/50 of broadcast or relay stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/72 using electronic programme guides [EPG] focusing on identifying broadcast space time H04H60/39 ; menu type display of EPG in television receivers H04N21/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones

Abstract

Provided are apparatuses and methods for providing a program or service transmission with associated ESG fragment(s) to a receiver within a designated location. Parameter, elements or sub-elements may be included in a service guide or other data fragment indicating the location within which the program, service and corresponding ESG fragment(s) may be broadcast. For example, a Cell ID may be indicated as an element or sub-element in an ESG fragment to indicate the location in which a program or service may be broadcast. Also, Cell IDs may be grouped to indicate a larger region in which to broadcast a program or service and corresponding ESG fragment(s) in a service guide.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive electronic service guide data to be transmitted to a designated geographic location;

receive one or more parameters corresponding to the designated geographic location, each of the one or more parameters comprising a designation of one of a Cell identification (ID) and a group of Cell IDs;

allocate one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to one or more cells corresponding to the designation; and

determine to transmit the allocated electronic service guide data to the one or more cells.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters are received in an electronic service guide fragment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a server, a base station, or a transmitter located between a data casting source and one or more subscriber terminals.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive one or more other parameters each of which comprises a designation of an geographic area defined independently of cells;

correspond the one or more other parameters to the one or more parameters comprising the designation of one of the Cell identification (ID) and the group of Cell IDs thereby corresponding the area to one or more cells associated with the designation of one of the Cell ID and the group of Cell IDs;

allocate one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to the one or more cells corresponding to the area; and

determine to transmit the allocated electronic service guide data to the one or more cells.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the area is defined by one or more zip codes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the allocated electronic service guide data is transmitted only to receivers located in the one or more cells, and the allocated electronic service guide data are tailored for the one or more cells.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein only the allocated portions of the electronic service guide data are transmitted to receivers located in the one or more cells, and the allocated electronic service guide data are tailored for the one or more cells.

8. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive one or some portions of electronic service guide data that is set for a designated geographic location, the one or some portions of electronic service guide data being allocated to one or more cells based upon a parameter including one of a Cell identification (ID) and a group of Cell IDs,

wherein the parameter is in an electronic service guide fragment.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine to display, store, or a combination thereof, the received one or some portions of the electronic service guide data.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the allocated electronic service guide data is transmitted only to receivers located in the one or more cells, and the allocated electronic service guide data are tailored for the one or more cells.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein only the allocated portions of the electronic service guide data are transmitted to receivers located in the one or more cells, and the allocated electronic service guide data are tailored for the one or more cells.

12. A method comprising:

receiving at an apparatus electronic service guide data to be transmitted to a designated geographic location;

receiving at the apparatus one or more parameters corresponding to the designated geographic location, each of the one or more parameters comprising a designation of one of a Cell identification (ID) and a group of Cell IDs;

allocating one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to one or more cells corresponding to the designation; and

determining to transmit the allocated electronic service guide data from the apparatus to the one or more cells.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the parameter comprises a zip code.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the allocating step comprises:

allocating one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to one or more cells corresponding to the zip code.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting step comprises determining to transmit the allocated electronic service guide data from the apparatus to a geographic area corresponding to the zip code.

16. A method comprising:

receiving one or some portions of electronic service guide data that is set for a designated geographic location, the one or some portions of electronic service guide data being allocated to one or more cells based upon a parameter including one of a Cell identification (ID) and a group of Cell IDs,

wherein the parameter is in an electronic service guide fragment.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining to display, store, or a combination thereof, the received one or some portions of the electronic service guide data.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

receiving electronic service guide data to be transmitted to a designated geographic location;

receiving one or more parameters corresponding to the designated geographic location, each of the one or more parameters comprising a designation of one of a Cell identification (ID) and a group of Cell IDs;

allocating one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to one or more cells corresponding to the designation; and

determining to transmit the allocated electronic service guide data to the one or more cells.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the parameter comprises a zip code.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the allocating step comprises:

allocating one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to one or more cells corresponding to the zip code.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the transmitting step comprises determining to transmit the allocated electronic service guide data from the apparatus to an area corresponding to the zip code.

22. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive location information corresponding to a geographic location in which electronic service guide data is to be transmitted;

determine a first Cell identification (ID) corresponding to the location information;

allocate one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to a cell based on the first Cell ID; and

determine to transmit the allocated electronic service guide data to the cell.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a second Cell ID; and

allocate one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to the cell and another cell corresponding to the second Cell ID.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the location information includes a parameter that comprises a zip code, and the apparatus is further caused to:

receive the one or some portions of electronic service guide data that is set for the zip code.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

receiving one or some portions of electronic service guide data that is set for a designated geographic location, the one or some portions of electronic service guide data being allocated to one or more cells based upon a parameter including one of a Cell identification (ID) and a group of Cell IDs,

wherein the parameter is in an electronic service guide fragment.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 25, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

determining to display, store, or a combination thereof, the received one or some portions of the electronic service guide data.

27. A method comprising:

receiving location information corresponding to a geographic location in which electronic service guide data is to be transmitted;

determining a first Cell identification (IDS) corresponding to the location information;

allocating one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to a cell based on the first Cell ID; and

determining to transmit the allocated electronic service guide data to the cell.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

determining a second Cell ID; and

allocating one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to the cell and another cell corresponding to the second Cell ID.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the location information includes a parameter that comprises a zip code, and the method further comprising:

receiving the one or some portions of electronic service guide data that is set for the zip code.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:

receiving location information corresponding to a geographic location in which electronic service guide data is to be transmitted;

determining a first Cell identification (ID) corresponding to the location information;

allocating one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to a cell based on the first Cell ID; and

determining to transmit the allocated electronic service guide data to the cell.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:

determining a second Cell ID; and

allocating one or some portions of the electronic service guide data to be transmitted to the cell and another cell corresponding to the second Cell ID.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the location information includes a parameter that comprises a zip code, and the apparatus is caused to further perform:

receiving the one or some portions of electronic service guide data that is set for the zip code.