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;
identifying a client topology table corresponding to the location tag;
if the client topology table corresponding to the location tag is not stored on the client device, downloading the client topology table to the client device;
determining a physical location of the client device based at least in part on the client topology table; and
forwarding the event to an application in the client device if the physical location of the client device is within the physical location identified by the location tag.
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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
16 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; identifying a client topology table corresponding to the location tag; if the client topology table corresponding to the location tag is not stored on the client device, downloading the client topology table to the client device; determining a physical location of the client device based at least in part on the client topology table; and forwarding the event to an application in the client device if the physical location of the client device is within the physical location identified by the location tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. 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 identifying the fine-grained location and corresponding to a client topology table; 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 location tag is not stored at a client device, providing the client topology table to the client device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. 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 identifying the physical location and corresponding to a client topology table; mapping the physical location to a plurality of network addresses; broadcasting events to client devices in the physical location via a broadcast distribution network; and if the client topology table corresponding to the location tag is not stored at a client device, providing the client topology table to the client device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification