Apparatus, method and system for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region

• US 6,169,894 B1
• Filed: 11/25/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: McCormick, Mark Alan, Williams, Leslie Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US09/200,333
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 455/507, 455/509, 455/517, 455/518, 455/456, 455/436, 455/422, 455/414, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/166.1, 455/166.2, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/188.1, 455/450, 455/458, 455/451, 455/452, 340/825.44, 340/905
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/55 for traffic information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/57 for mobile receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/71 using meteorological information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system provide or broadcast information within a given geographic region that is also specific to a given geographic region, such as traffic reports, sightseeing interests, public services information, or weather conditions. The apparatus, method and system of the present invention also provide for different or varying information to be broadcast from region to region; specific hand-off procedures as mobile units change regions; the capability for multiple mobile units to utilize the same broadcast channel containing the information; and the muting of the reverse voice channels of such mobile units during such broadcast sessions. The system of the present invention includes a plurality of serving transceivers located in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas, and a switching center coupled via a plurality of trunk lines to the plurality of serving transceivers. The system is user activated, wherein the switching center, when operative, includes program instructions to receive from a first serving transceiver a first request from a first mobile unit for an information broadcast feature in a first geographic area, and to connect a trunk line having the requested information broadcast feature to a broadcast channel; to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the first mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area and to mute a transmit voice channel of the first mobile unit.

Claims

1. A method for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a first request from a first mobile unit for an information broadcast feature in a first geographic area served by a first serving transceiver;

(b) determining whether a broadcast channel providing the information broadcast feature is currently in use in the first geographic area;

(c) when the broadcast channel is not currently in use in the first geographic area, providing power to a transmitter for the broadcast channel of the first serving transceiver and connecting a trunk line having the requested information broadcast feature to the broadcast channel;

(d) directing the first mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area; and

(e) muting a transmit voice channel of the first mobile unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises:

receiving a designated feature code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) further comprises:

disabling any multi-party features of the first mobile unit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring whether any mobile unit of a plurality of mobile units is receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

when there are no mobile units of the plurality of mobile units receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, removing power to the transmitter for the broadcast channel of the first serving transceiver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the first mobile unit is receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, receiving a second request from a second mobile unit for the information broadcast feature in the first geographic area;

directing the second mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area; and

muting a transmit voice channel of the second mobile unit.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a signal strength of the first mobile unit.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

when the signal strength of the first mobile unit received by the first serving transceiver is below a predetermined level, transmitting a request to a plurality of adjacent serving transceivers in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas to determine the signal strength of the first mobile unit;

selecting an adjacent serving transceiver of the plurality of adjacent serving transceivers as a target serving transceiver;

transmitting a hand-off directive to the target serving transceiver;

determining a second broadcast channel providing an information broadcast feature in a second geographic area served by the target serving transceiver; and

directing the first mobile unit to the second broadcast channel.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting a message to the first serving transceiver that the target serving transceiver is serving the first mobile unit.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating an accounting record for the first serving transceiver.

11. A system for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region, the system comprising:

a plurality of serving transceivers located in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas, the plurality of serving transceivers having a first serving transceiver; and

a switching center coupled via a plurality of trunk lines to the plurality of serving transceivers, wherein the switching center, when operative, includes program instructions to receive from the first serving transceiver a first request from a first mobile unit for an information broadcast feature in a first geographic area served by the first serving transceiver, and to determine whether a broadcast channel providing the information broadcast feature is currently in use in the first geographic area;

the switching center including further instructions, when the broadcast channel is not currently in use in the first geographic area, to connect a trunk line having the requested information broadcast feature to the broadcast channel and to direct the first serving transceiver to provide power to a transmitter for the broadcast channel;

the switching center including further instructions to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the first mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, and to mute a transmit voice channel of the first mobile unit.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first request comprises a designated feature code received by the first serving transceiver.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the switching center includes further instructions to direct the first serving transceiver to disable any multiparty features of the first mobile unit.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the switching center includes further instructions to monitor whether any mobile unit of a plurality of mobile units is receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the switching center includes further instructions, when there are no mobile units of the plurality of mobile units receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, to direct the first serving transceiver to remove power to the transmitter of the broadcast channel.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the switching center includes further instructions, while the first mobile unit is receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, to receive from the first serving transceiver a second request from a second mobile unit for the information broadcast feature in the first geographic area;

the switching center including further instructions to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the second mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area and to mute a transmit voice channel of the second mobile unit.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the switching center includes further instructions to monitor a signal strength of the first mobile unit.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the switching center includes further instructions, when the signal strength of the first mobile unit received by the first serving transceiver is below a predetermined level, to transmit a request to a plurality of adjacent serving transceivers, in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas, to determine the signal strength of the first mobile unit;

the switching center including further instructions to select an adjacent serving transceiver of the plurality of adjacent serving transceivers as a target serving transceiver, and to transmit a hand-off directive to the target serving transceiver;

the switching center including further instructions to determine a second broadcast channel providing an information broadcast feature in a second geographic area served by the target serving transceiver, and to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the first mobile unit to the second broadcast channel.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the switching center includes further instructions to transmit a message to the first serving transceiver that the target serving transceiver is serving the first mobile unit.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the switching center includes further instructions to generate an accounting record for the first serving transceiver.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the switching center is further comprised of:

a network interface couplable to the plurality of trunk lines;

a memory, the memory storing a plurality of information broadcast features; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and to the memory.

22. An apparatus for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region, the apparatus couplable via a plurality of trunk lines to a plurality of serving transceivers located in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas, the plurality of serving transceivers having a first serving transceiver, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface couplable to the plurality of trunk lines;

a memory, the memory storing a plurality of information broadcast features; and

a processor coupled to the network interface and to the memory, wherein the processor, when operative, includes program instructions to receive from the first serving transceiver a first request from a first mobile unit for an information broadcast feature in a first geographic area served by the first serving transceiver, and to determine whether a broadcast channel providing the information broadcast feature is currently in use in the first geographic area;

the processor including further instructions, when the broadcast channel is not currently in use in the first geographic area, to connect a trunk line, of the plurality of trunk lines, having the requested information broadcast feature to the broadcast channel and to direct the first serving transceiver to provide power to a transmitter for the broadcast channel;

the processor including further instructions to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the first mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, and to mute a transmit voice channel of the first mobile unit.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first request comprises a designated feature code received by the first serving transceiver.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processor includes further instructions to direct the first serving transceiver to disable any multiparty features of the first mobile unit.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processor includes further instructions to monitor whether any mobile unit of a plurality of mobile units is receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the processor includes further instructions, when there is no mobile unit of the plurality of mobile units which is receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, to direct the first serving transceiver to remove power to the transmitter of the broadcast channel.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processor includes further instructions, while the first mobile unit is receiving the broadcast channel in the first geographic area, to receive from the first serving transceiver a second request from a second mobile unit for the information broadcast feature in the first geographic area;

the processor including further instructions to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the second mobile unit to the broadcast channel in the first geographic area and to mute a transmit voice channel of the second mobile unit.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processor includes further instructions to monitor a signal strength of the first mobile unit.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the processor includes further instructions, when the signal strength of the first mobile unit received by the first serving transceiver is below a predetermined level, to transmit a request to a plurality of adjacent serving transceivers in a corresponding plurality of geographic areas to determine the signal strength of the first mobile unit;

the processor including further instructions to select an adjacent serving transceiver of the plurality of adjacent serving transceivers as a target serving transceiver, and to transmit a hand-off directive to the target serving transceiver;

the processor including further instructions to determine a second broadcast channel providing an information broadcast feature in a second geographic area served by the target serving transceiver, and to direct the first serving transceiver to transmit a directive to the first mobile unit to the second broadcast channel.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the processor includes further instructions to transmit a message to the first serving transceiver that the target serving transceiver is serving the first mobile unit.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the processor includes further instructions to generate an accounting record for the first serving transceiver.