Follow-me broadcast reception method and system

• US 20040198217A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Chinmei Chen, Voelker, John Alvan
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/26 Arrangements for switching distribution systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/85 which are mobile communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Methods and systems for seamlessly broadcasting data to a user moving among a plurality of broadcast coverage areas. A first signal containing desired data may be received by a receiving device at a user location, wherein the first signal is broadcast from a first transmitting station associated with a first broadcast coverage. Thereafter, the receiving device (e.g., a radio or in-vehicle television) can be automatically instructed to search for and tune to a second transmitting station associated with a second broadcast coverage area broadcasting a second signal containing the desired data if the first signal fades at the user location, thereby permitting the user to seamlessly receive data as the user moves among a plurality of broadcast coverage areas. The receiving device can also be automatically instructed to search for and tune to a third transmitting station broadcasting a third signal containing data of a type associated with the desired data, if the second signal containing the desired program cannot be identified.

Claims

1. A method for seamlessly facilitating reception of broadcast data by a user moving among a plurality of broadcast coverage areas, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at a user location a first signal containing desired data, wherein said first signal is broadcast from a first transmitting station associated with a first broadcast coverage area; and

if said first signal fades at said user location, automatically tuning at said user location to a second transmitting station associated with a second broadcast coverage area broadcasting a second signal containing said desired data, thereby permitting said user to seamlessly receive said data as said user moves among a plurality of broadcast coverage areas.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

automatically tuning at said user location to a third transmitting station associated with a third broadcast coverage area broadcasting a third signal containing data of a type associated with said desired data, if said second signal containing said desired program cannot be identified.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

searching for a transmitting station broadcasting a signal containing said desired data based on at least one prior user location; and

tuning to said transmitting station, if a prior signal containing said desired data fades.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically tuning to a second transmitting station broadcasting a second signal containing said desired data, if said first signal fades at said user location, further comprises the step of:

automatically tuning to a second transmitting station broadcasting a second signal containing said desired data, in response to a user request, if said first signal fades at said user location.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

tuning to said third transmitting station based on data contained in a user profile stored with a database.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired data comprises a radio program transmitted from a radio transmitting station.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said desired data comprises a television program broadcast from a television transmitting station.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

locating at said user location an in-vehicle network interface device for wirelessly receiving and transmitting data to and from at least one remote server through at least one wireless network.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said at least one remote server comprises a Follow-me Broadcast Reception Services (FBRS) application server.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

selecting said signal of said second transmitting station associated with said second broadcast coverage for tuning thereof based on user data contained in a user profile within a database.

11. A system for seamlessly facilitating reception of broadcast data by a user moving among a plurality of broadcast coverage areas, said system comprising:

receiver for receiving at a user location a first signal containing desired data, wherein said first signal is broadcast from a first transmitting station associated with a first broadcast coverage area; and

a module for automatically tuning at said user location to a second transmitting station associated with a second broadcast coverage area broadcasting a second signal containing said desired data, if said first signal fades at said user location, thereby permitting said user to seamlessly receive said data as said user moves among a plurality of broadcast coverage areas.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a module for automatically tuning at said user location to a third transmitting station associated with a third broadcast coverage area broadcasting a third signal containing data of a type associated with said desired data, if said second signal containing said desired program cannot be identified.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a module for searching for a transmitting station broadcasting a signal containing said desired data based on at least one prior user location; and

a module for tuning to said transmitting station, if a prior signal containing said desired data fades.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein said module for automatically tuning to a second transmitting station broadcasting a second signal containing said desired data, if said first signal fades at said user location, further comprises:

a module for automatically tuning to a second transmitting station broadcasting a second signal containing said desired data, in response to a user request, if said first signal fades at said user location.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a module for tuning to said third transmitting station based on data contained in a user profile.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein said desired data comprises a radio program transmitted from a radio transmitting station.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein said desired data comprises a television program broadcast from a television transmitting station.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein said user location comprises an in-vehicle network interface device for wirelessly receiving and transmitting data to and from at least one remote server through at least one wireless network.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said at least one remote server comprises a Follow-me Broadcast Reception Services (FBRS) application server.