US6169894B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus, method and system for mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region
Assignee: RPX Corp
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Filing: 1998-11-25
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Granted: 2001-01-02
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Expires: 2018-11-25
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Alan McCormick
- 👤 Leslie Joseph Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/65; H04H20/71; H04H20/72; H04H20/53; H04H20/57; H04H20/61; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42348; H04M3/487; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/02; H04W4/029; H04W4/06; H04H20/55; H04H60/00; H04H60/68; H04H60/71; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/205; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises: receiving a designated feature code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step (e) further comprises: disabling any multi-party features of the first mobile unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
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.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
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.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: monitoring a signal strength of the first mobile unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
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.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 , further comprising: generating an accounting record for the first serving transceiver.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
210 words
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.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
210 words
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.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the first request comprises a designated feature code received by the first serving transceiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
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.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
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.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
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.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
94 words
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.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the switching center includes further instructions to monitor a signal strength of the first mobile unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
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.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
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.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the switching center includes further instructions to generate an accounting record for the first serving transceiver.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
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.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
239 words
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.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
239 words
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.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first request comprises a designated feature code received by the first serving transceiver.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
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.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
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.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
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.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
92 words
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.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the processor includes further instructions to monitor a signal strength of the first mobile unit.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
141 words
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.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
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.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the processor includes further instructions to generate an accounting record for the first serving transceiver.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-01-02 | 2004-07-03 | 2005-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-02 | 2008-07-03 | 2009-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-02 | 2012-07-03 | 2013-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |