Cellular base station broadcast method and system

• US 7,039,386 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2002
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kolsrud, Arild
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US10/124,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/567, 455/412.2, 370/444, 370/338, 370/455, 340/286.02, 340/539.11, 340/531, 340/7.48, 379/37, 379/48, 379/68, 379/72, 379/46, 379/51
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

In the method, an emergency broadcast station receives report of an impending or current disaster-related situation from a local authority. The geographic area to be affected by the impending or current disaster-related situation is served by an existing communication system, such as a cellular network. The emergency broadcast station generates a signal representing an emergency broadcast message that contains a frequency of an accessible main emergency channel at the emergency broadcast station, and a priority level classifying the emergent or impending disaster-related situation. The signal is transmitted to one or base stations, each serving a plurality of users of the system, which in turn send the signal to the users. The users tune to the frequency of the channel to receive the emergency broadcast message.

Claims

1. A method of distributing emergency warning messages from a broadcast station in a communication system, comprising:

generating an emergency broadcast message of a current or impending emergency from the broadcast station; and

transmitting an emergency information signal representing the emergency broadcast message to at least one base station, the emergency information signal including at least one of a plurality of priority levels indicating the severity of the current or impending emergency therein, the transmitted emergency information signal increasing in tone or volume based on the corresponding increase in the severity of the priority level included therein.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a signal containing the emergency information to users served by the at least one base station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted from the base station to one or more mobile stations at a gentle beep at lower priority levels, and is adapted to interrupt a current conversation at said one or more mobile stations with a louder beep and/or by displaying an urgent text message at higher priority levels.

4. A method of distributing signals representing emergency warning messages in a communication system, comprising:

receiving an emergency information signal representing an emergency broadcast message of a current or impending disaster, at a base station; and

transmitting a signal to users served by the base station the signal including at least one of a plurality of priority levels indicating the severity of the current or impending emergency therein, the transmitted signal increasing in tone or volume based on the corresponding increase in the severity of the priority level included therein.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal includes a frequency of an accessible main emergency channel, the method further comprising tuning to the frequency to receive the emergency broadcast message.

6. The method of claim 4, said receiving including receiving the emergency information signal from an emergency broadcast station that generates the emergency broadcast message.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the signal is transmitted from the base station to one or more users at a gentle beep at lower priority levels, and is adapted to interrupt a current conversation at said one or more mobile stations with a louder beep and/or by displaying an urgent text message at higher priority levels.

8. A method of receiving emergency warning messages at one or more mobile stations in a communication system, comprising:

receiving a signal representing an emergency broadcast message of a current or impending disaster, the received signal increasing in tone or volume based a corresponding increase in the severity of a priority level included in the received signal which indicates the severity of the current or impending emergency; and

tuning to a frequency of an accessible main emergency channel included within the signal to receive the emergency broadcast message.

9. The method of claim 8, said receiving including receiving the signal from a base station serving the mobile stations.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is received as a gentle beep at lower priority levels, and is adapted to interrupt a current conversation at the mobile station with a louder beep and/or by displaying an urgent text message at higher priority levels.

11. A method of receiving emergency warning messages at one or more mobile stations in a communication system, comprising:

receiving a signal representing an emergency broadcast message of a current or impending emergency, the signal changing in accordance with one or more priority levels indicating the severity of the current or impending disaster; and

handling the signal differently depending on the severity of the received priority level as indicated by the change in one of a tone or volume of the signal,

wherein the tone or volume of the received signal increases based on a corresponding increase in severity of the priority level.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said signal is received as a gentle beep at lower priority levels, and is adapted to interrupt a current conversation at the one or more mobile stations with a louder beep and/or by displaying an urgent text message at higher priority levels.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said receiving includes

receiving a frequency of an accessible main emergency channel that is included in the signal;

and

tuning to the frequency to receive the emergency broadcast message.

14. The method of claim 13,

wherein said at least one or more mobile stations are mobile cellular phones, and

wherein said handling includes downloading a text message of the frequency and priority level, and beeping when the mobile cellular phone is on standby.

15. A method of distributing signals representing emergency warning messages in a communication system, comprising:

receiving an emergency information signal representing an emergency broadcast message of a current or impending emergency, at a base station; and

transmitting a signal including at least one of a plurality of priority levels indicating the severity of the current or impending emergency therein to one or more users served by the base station, the signal changing based on the priority level included therein,

wherein the emergency information signal is transmitted as a gentle beep at lower priority levels, and is adapted to interrupt a current conversation at the mobile station with a louder beep and/or by displaying an urgent text message at higher priority levels.

16. A method of receiving emergency warning messages at one or more mobile stations in a communication system, comprising:

receiving a signal representing an emergency broadcast message of a current or impending emergency, the signal changing in accordance with one or more priority levels indicating the severity of the current or impending disaster; and

handling the signal differently depending on the severity of the received priority level as indicated by the change in signal,

wherein said signal is received as a gentle beep at lower priority levels, and is adapted to interrupt a current conversation at the one or more mobile stations with a louder beep and/or by displaying an urgent text message at higher priority levels.