EP1741273A1

EP1741273A1 - Apparatus and method of cell broadcasting

Info

Publication number: EP1741273A1
Application number: EP05727762A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Diarmuid J. Linehan
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
Priority date: 2004-04-19
Filing date: 2005-03-14
Publication date: 2007-01-10
Also published as: GB2413459B; KR100840886B1; GB0408610D0; WO2005107225A1; CN101268678A; EP1741273A4; KR20060134169A; GB2413459A

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of conveying a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a specific geographical area. The method is characterised by a mobile station calling a reserved number, and the communication network verifying that said mobile station is listed on a cellular broadcast authorisation list. The mobile station transmits a message for broadcast to the aforesaid called number, and if the mobile station is verified as authorised, the communication network broadcasts the message via a cell broadcast system. In so doing, the present invention aims to provide a trusted cell broadcasting system that circumvents the delays caused by human operator.

Description

Apparatus and Method of Cell Broadcasting

Technical Field

The invention relates to apparatus and a method of cell broadcasting. In particular, it relates to apparatus and a method of cell broadcasting to rapidly convey emergency messages .

Background

Cell broadcasting (CB) is a facility provided in cellular wireless telecommunication systems by the GSM and UMTS standards and potentially other cellular air interfaces.

In contrast to the one-to-one form of short message service (SMS) text messaging, cell broadcasting provides a one-to-many broadcast of a message to all subscriber mobile communication devices (e.g. mobile phones) within a given geographical area, from a single cell to an entire country.

Applications for CB listed on the official CB website http : //www. cellbroadcastforum. org/ include the broadcasting of adverts, traffic information, and hazard warnings .

With reference to FIG. 1, a Typical cell broadcast system 100 is administered by an operator 102 of a cell broadcast entity' 104 (e.g., see http: //www. emtel . etsi.org/Workshop/Session%203/Emergency% 20broadcast%20ETSI.ppt, http: //www. logicacmg. com/telecoms/pdf/LogicaCMG Factsheet CBS.pdf or the official CB website) .

The cell broadcast entity (CBE) 104 is typically a central computer, which is linked to a cell broadcast centre (CBC) 106. The operator determines the message to send and the geographical area to be covered by it using the CBE. The CBE then sends a formatted message to the CBC, which acts as a message server sending the message to the relevant cells 108, where it is broadcast and received by any suitably equipped mobile communication device 110 subscribing to the network.

Whilst the CB system may be ideal for advertisers and providers of local information, in an emergency situation access to a CB operator may be difficult to obtain or too slow to be of use, and valuable time may be wasted accurately explaining to a second party the nature and location of a sudden hazard, or indeed persuading the operator that it is not a hoax.

Consequently there is a need for a trusted cellular broadcasting system that circumvents the delay introduced by the CB operator 102.

The purpose of the present invention is to address the above problem.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a method of conveying a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a specific geographical area. The method is characterised by a communication device such as a mobile station calling a reserved number, and the communication network verifying that said mobile station is listed on a cellular broadcast authorisation list. The mobile station transmits a message for broadcast to the aforesaid called number, and if the mobile station is verified as authorised, the communication network broadcasts the message via a cell broadcast system.

In so doing, the present invention aims to provide a trusted cell broadcasting system (as only messages from authorised mobile stations are used) that circumvents the delays caused by a human operator.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of conveying a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a specific geographical area, as claimed in claim 1.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a mobile station, as claimed in claim 12

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a mobile station, as claimed in claim 13

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a mobile switching centre, as claimed in claim 17

In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a home location register, as claimed in claim 20

Further features of the present invention are as defined in the dependent claims . Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 Illustrates a prior art cell broadcasting system.

FIG. 2 Is a schematic diagram of a method of cell broadcasting in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description

A method of conveying a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a specific geographical area is disclosed. In particular, a method of originating a cell broadcast from a mobile communications device, or ^λmobile station', such as a police officer's mobile phone, or a mobile communications device embedded in a sensor system.

Referring to figure 2, in an embodiment of the present invention a communication device such as a mobile station (MS) 210 calls a number reserved for cell broadcasting. However, to prevent prank calls, the communication network then verifies that the MS 210 is listed on a cellular broadcast authorisation list:

A mobile switching centre (MSC) 230 serving the call recognises the reserved number, and interrogates a home location register (HLR) 240 serving the MSC 230. The MSC 230 requests verification that a given identifying number of the MS 210 matches one listed by the HLR 240 as corresponding to ah MS authorised to send a broadcast message .

By maintaining a list of authorised devices in this manner, the people or systems able to send cell broadcasts by MS is limited to a trusted group.

If the MS 210 is verified as authorised, a message can be sent for broadcast, which is routed via the MSC 230 to the cell broadcast centre (CBC) 250, thus bypassing the process of contacting and instructing the operator 102 of the cell broadcast entity 104.

Typically, the content of the message itself will either be input by the user, selected by the user from a pre- stored set, or in the case of a sensor system be predefined.

In addition, supplementary parameter data may be added to the message. This data can include: i. A message identifier, giving the message source and type (for example ^ΛPolice/Warning' ) ; ii. Identification of any data coding scheme used in the message (for example, if a scrambled message were to be broadcast to riot police in a given area) ; iii. Geographical area information (for example, where to broadcast the message, defined either in terms of cells, co-ordinates, place names, or by other means such as a binary code corresponding to an area, depending on the facilities of the cell broadcast system) ; and iv. Frequency and/or number of broadcast repetitions.

If used, these parameters may be predetermined, selected by the user from a pre-stored set, or input by the user.

Alternatively or in addition, parameters may be added by a component of the network (for example the MSC 230) based on information provided by the HLR 240 such as the type of user.

Similarly, parameters may be added by a component of the network (for example the MSC 230) based on what number was called, if more than one number is available (for example, a dedicated police emergency number would imply the required message identifier information) .

Typically, the content of the message and any supplementary parameters may be coded in extended markup language (XML) , but it is within the contemplation of the present invention that any suitable format may be used, depending on the facilities of the cell broadcast system.

Similarly, the message itself is typically an SMS text, but it is within the contemplation of the present invention that the message may comprise any or all of text, video and audio, depending on the facilities of the cell broadcast system.

In an embodiment of the present invention the MSC 230 takes the message and any supplementary parameter data provided by the MS 210, and optionally any data obtained or inferred from other sources such as the HLR 240 and the reserved number, and then sends to the CBC a complete message in a format compatible with the CBC. Thus if any supplementary parameter data in the message corresponds to a geographical area, it is used by the MSC 230 to determine from which base station or stations 260 the message is to be broadcast.

By contrast, if there is no supplementary parameter data in the message corresponding to a geographical area, the MSC 230 may select the geographical area as the cell covered by base station at which the originating call was. received 220, and update the message accordingly to inform the CBC 250. In this case, optionally all base stations whose cells neighbour or overlap the initially selected base station are also selected for broadcast.

It will be understood that the method of conveying a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a specific geographical area as described above, provides at least one or more of the following advantages: i. Urgent cell broadcast messages can be sent without the need to find, inform or convince a cell broadcast operator; ii. Who may send a cell broadcast message is controlled by an authorisation list, so reducing the risk of hoaxes; iii. Cell broadcast messages may be sent automatically if a hazard is detected (for example, a chemical leak or reactor overheat) ;

All the above advantages contribute to a trusted cell broadcast system that can alert network subscribers in a designated area to a hazard more quickly than is possible at present, potentially saving lives.

In addition to the above method, the present invention also provides a mobile station (MS) 210;

In an embodiment of the present invention, the MS 210 is a mobile phone, PDA or other mobile communication device capable of sending a message over the cellular system

100.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the MS 210 is embedded within a sensor or sensor system, and is capable of automatically dialling the reserved number upon detection of a hazard by the sensor.

In each of the above embodiments, the MS may comprise an application facilitating any or all of; i. input of a message for cell broadcast; ii. selection of a message for cell broadcast; iii. input of supplementary parameter values for a cell broadcast message; and iv. selection of supplementary parameter values for a cell broadcast message.

If the MS provides a suitable graphical interface, it may optionally provide means for the user to define a geographical area of coverage for the message by interacting with a displayed map.

In addition, the present invention also provides a mobile switching centre (MSC) 230;

In an embodiment of the present invention, the MSC 230 is operable to request verification that an MS 210 calling a reserved number is listed on a cellular broadcast authorisation list.

Optionally, the MSC 230 is also operable to add supplementary parameter data to a message for cell broadcast sent by a mobile station 210, depending on information made available from disparate sources such as the HLR 240 or the number dialled.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the MSC sends the CBC a complete message in a format compatible with the CBC.

Finally, the present invention provides a home location register (HLR) 240;

In an embodiment of the present invention, HLR 240 is operable to store a cellular broadcast authorisation list and to verify identifying numbers of mobile stations against said list.

Claims

1. A method of conveying a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a specific geographical area, characterised by; a communication device 210 calling a reserved number, and the communication network verifying that said communication device is listed on a cellular broadcast authorisation list; the communication device 210 transmitting a message for broadcast to the aforesaid called number; and if the mobile station is verified as authorised, the communication network broadcasting said message to the service subscribers .

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein upon receipt of a call to the reserved number by a communication device 210, a serving mobile switching centre (MSC) 230 interrogates a serving home location register (HLR) (240) as to whether a given identifying number of the communication device210 matches one listed by the HLR 240 as corresponding to a communication device authorised to send a broadcast message.

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the message transmitted by the communication device 210 may comprise any or all of the following; i. text; ii. audio; and iii. video.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the message is a short message service (SMS) text.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the message transmitted by the communication device 210 is supplemented with parameter data suitable for interpretation by a cellular broadcast centre 250.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the supplementary parameter data is formatted in extended markup language (XML) .

7. A method according to any one of claims 5 and 6 wherein some or all of the supplementary parameter data is defined by user selection from a set of options.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the message transmitted by the communication device 210 is predefined.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein any supplementary parameter data in the message corresponding to a geographical area is used by the message switching centre to determine 'from which base station or stations the message is to be broadcast, and to update the message accordingly to inform the cellular broadcast centre.

10. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein if there is no supplementary parameter data in the message corresponding to geographical area, then the message switching centre 230 selects the geographical area as the cell covered by the base station 220 at which the originating call was received, and updates the message accordingly to inform the cellular broadcast centre.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein any or all base stations whose cells neighbour or overlap the initially selected base station 220 are also selected for broadcast.

12. A communication device 210 comprising processing unit programmed to facilitate in operation any or all of; i. input of a message for cell broadcast; ii. selection of a message for cell broadcast; iii. input of supplementary parameter values for a cell broadcast message; and iv. selection of supplementary parameter values for a cell broadcast message.

13. A communication device 210 wherein the processing unit is arranged in operation to supplement a message with parameter data for a cellular broadcast.

14. A¹ communication device 210 according to claim 13 comprising input means arranged in operation to input as supplementary parameter data any or all of the following; i. a message identifier, giving the message source and type; ii. identification of any data coding scheme used in the message; iii. geographical area information; iv. frequency of broadcast repetitions; and v. number of broadcast repetitions.

15. A communication device 210 according to any one of claims 12 and 13 wherein the mobile station 210 is a mobile phone.

16. A sensor system comprising a communication device 210 according to any one of claims 12 and 13, for conveying a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a specific geographical area upon sensor alert.

17. A mobile switching centre 230 having means in operation to request verification that a communication device 210 calling a reserved number is listed on a cellular broadcast authorisation list.

18. A mobile switching centre 230 according to claim 17 having means in operation to add supplementary parameter data to a message for cell broadcast sent by a communication device 210.

19. A mobile switching centre 230 according to claim 17 or 18 having means in operation to format and send a complete message to a cell broadcast centre 250.

20. A home location register 240 having means in operation to store a cellular broadcast authorisation list and to verify identifying numbers of mobile stations against said list.

21. A method of conveying a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a specific geographical area substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A communication device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A mobile switching centre substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .

24. A home location register substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.