KR20060134169A - Apparatus and method of cell broadcasting - Google Patents

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

Cell broadcasting apparatus and method {APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CELL BROADCASTING}

The present invention relates to a cell broadcasting apparatus and method. In particular, the present invention relates to a cell broadcast apparatus and method for quickly delivering emergency messages.

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

In contrast to one-to-one form of short message service (SMS) text messaging, cell broadcasting is a one-to-one correspondence of all subscriber mobile communication devices (eg, mobile phones) within a given geographic area from one cell to the entire area. Provides multiple broadcasts.

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

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical cell broadcast system 100 is a 'cell broadcast entity' 104 (eg, http://www.emtel.stsi.org/Workshop/Session%203/Emergency%20 broadcast % 20ETSI.ppt , http://www.logicacmg.com/telecoms/pdf/LogicaCMG Factsheet CBS.pdf or official CB website).

The cell broadcast entity (CBE) 104 is typically a central computer, which is linked to the cell broadcast center (CBC) 106. The operator uses the CBE to determine the message to send and the geographic area to be covered. The CBE then sends the formatted message to the CBC, which acts as a message server that sends the message to the relevant cells 108, where any appropriately equipped mobile communication device that broadcasts and joins the network ( 110).

Although the CB system is ideal for advertisers and providers of local information, access to the CB operators can be difficult or too slow to use in an emergency situation, accurately describing the nature and location of a sudden risk to a second party, Valuable time can be wasted on explaining to the operator that it's not really a joke.

As a result, there is a need for a reliable cellular broadcast system that avoids the delay introduced by the CB operator 102.

It is an object of the present invention to address this problem.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a method of delivering a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a particular geographic area. The method features a communication device such as a mobile station calling a reservation number and a communication network verifying that the mobile station is listed on a cellular broadcast authorization list. The mobile station transmits a message for broadcast to the above-mentioned call number, and if the mobile station is verified to be authenticated, the communication network broadcasts the message via the cell broadcast system.

In doing so, the present invention aims to provide a reliable cell broadcast system (only messages from authorized mobile stations are used) that avoids delays caused by human operators.

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

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

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

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a mobile switching center as claimed in claim 17.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a home position register, as claimed in claim 20.

Other features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 illustrates a prior art cell broadcast system.

2 is a schematic diagram of a cell broadcasting method according to the present invention;

A method for delivering a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a particular geographic area is disclosed. In particular, a method is disclosed for cell broadcasting from a mobile communication device, a 'mobile station' such as a police mobile phone, or from a mobile communication device inserted into a sensor system.

2, in an embodiment of the present invention, a communication device, such as mobile station (MS) 210, calls a reservation number for cell broadcasting. However, to prevent rogue calls, the communication network verifies that the MS 210 is listed on the cellular broadcast authentication list.

The mobile switching center (MSC) 230 using the call recognizes the reservation number and queries the home location register (HLR) 240 using the MSC 230. The MSC 230 requires verification that the given identification number of the MS 210 matches that listed by the HLR 240 as corresponding to the MS authenticated to send the broadcast message.

By maintaining a list of authorized devices in this manner, the people or systems that can transmit cell broadcasts by the MS are restricted to trusted groups.

If the MS 210 is verified as authenticated, the message is sent for broadcast, which is routined to the cell broadcast center (CBS) 250 via the MSC 230, and thus the operator of the cell broadcast entity 104. Contact 102 and bypass the commanding process.

Typically, the content of the message itself is entered by the user, selected by the user from a pre-stored set, or predefined in the case of a sensor system.

In addition, additional parameter data may be added to the message. This data is

Iii. A message identifier (eg 'police / warning') providing a message source and type;

Ii. Identification of any data coding method used in the message (eg, if a scrambled message is broadcast to the riot police in a given area);

Iii. Geographic area information (eg, a place for broadcasting a message defined by cells, coordinates, a police name, or other means such as a binary code corresponding to an area, depending on the facilities of the cell broadcasting system); And

Iii. Frequency and / or broadcast repeat count.

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

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

Similarly, if parameters are available (eg, a dedicated police emergency number contains the required message identifier information), the parameters of the network (eg, MSC 230) depend on which number is called. Can be added by the component.

Typically, the content of the message and any additional parameters are coded in Extended Markup Language (XML), but any suitable format may be used depending on the facilities of the cell broadcast system within the considerations of the present invention.

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

In an embodiment of the invention, MSC 230 takes the message and additional parameter data provided by MS 210, and optionally any data obtained or inferred from other sources, such as HLR 240 and reservation number. It sends a complete message to the CBC in a format compatible with the CBC.

Thus, if any additional parameter data of the message corresponds to the geographic area, it is used by the MSC 230 to determine which base station or stations 26 message will be broadcast.

In contrast, if there is no additional parameter data of the message corresponding to the geographic area, the MSC 230 selects the geographic area as the cell covered by the base station from which the original call is retrieved 220 and informs the CBC 250. Update the message. In this case, optionally all base stations whose cells neighbor or overlap with the base station initially selected are selected for broadcast.

It will be appreciated that a method of delivering a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a particular geographic area as described above provides at least one of the following advantages.

Iii. Critical cell broadcast messages can be sent without the need to discover, inform or persuade the cell broadcast operator.

Ii. Anyone who can send a cell broadcast message can be controlled by an authorization list, thereby reducing bad pranks.

Iii. If a risk is detected (eg chemical leakage or reactor overheating), the cell broadcast message may be sent automatically.

All of the above advantages contribute to a reliable cell broadcast system that can alert network subscribers in areas of risk faster than is currently possible, potentially saving lives.

In addition to the above method, the present invention provides a mobile station (MS) 210, and in an embodiment of the present invention, the MS 210 can transmit a message via the cellular system 100, a mobile phone, a PDA or other mobile communication. Device.

In another embodiment of the present invention, MS 210 may be inserted into a sensor or sensor system and automatically dial a reservation number upon detection of danger by the sensor.

In each of the above embodiments, the MS is

Iii. Message input for cell broadcasting,

Ii. Message selection for cell broadcasting,

Iii. Input of additional parameter values for the cell broadcast message, and

Iii. It may include any one or all application facilities of the selection of additional parameter values for the cell broadcast message.

If the MS provides a suitable geographic interface, it may optionally provide a means for the user to interact with the displayed map to define a geographic coverage area for the message.

In addition, the present invention provides a mobile switching center (MSC) 230.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the MSC 230 operates to request verification that the MS 210 calling the reservation number is listed on the cellular broadcast authentication list.

Optionally, the MSC 230 operates to add additional parameter data to the message for cell broadcast sent by the mobile station 210, in accordance with information available from the HLR 240 or other sources such as dialed numbers. do.

In an embodiment of the invention, the MSC sends a complete message to the CBC 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 operates to store a cellular broadcast authorization list and verify mobile station identification numbers against the list.

Claims (24)

A method for delivering a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a particular geographic area, A communication device 210 for calling the reservation number, Verifying, by the communication network, that the communication device is listed on a cellular broadcast authentication list; Transmitting, by the communication device 210, a message for broadcasting to the above-mentioned called number, and If the mobile station is verified to be authenticated, the communication network broadcasting the message to the service subscribers. The method of claim 1, Upon receipt of the call to the reservation number by the communication device 210, the mobile switching center (MSC) 230 in use is a communication device for which a given identification number of the communication device 210 has been authenticated to transmit a broadcast message. Querying the HLR (240) in use whether it matches the one listed by the home location register (HLR) (240) as corresponding to. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The message sent by the communication device 210, Iii. text; Ii. audio; And Iii. A message delivery method, which can include any one or all of video. The method of claim 3, wherein And the message is a short message service (SMS) text. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Message sent by the communication device (210) is appended with appropriate parameter data for interpretation by a cellular broadcast center (250). The method of claim 5, And the additional parameter data is formatted in an extended markup language (XML). The method according to claim 5 or 6, Some or all of said additional parameter data is defined by user selection from a set of options. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, Message sent by the communication device (210) is predefined. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, Any additional parameter data in the message corresponding to the geographic area may be determined by the message switching center to determine from which base station or stations the message will be broadcast and update the message accordingly to inform the cellular broadcast center. The message delivery method used. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, If there are no additional parameters of the message corresponding to the geographic area, the message switching center 230 selects the geographic area as the cell covered by the base station 220 where the original call was received, and the cellular broadcast center Updating the message accordingly in order to inform the message. The method of claim 10, Any or all base stations whose cells are adjacent or overlap with the first selected base station (220) are also selected for broadcasting. In the communication device 210, Iii. Input of a message for cell broadcast; Ii. Selection of a message for cell broadcast; Iii. Input of additional parameter values for the cell broadcast message; And Iii. And a processing unit programmed to operatively facilitate any or all of the selection of additional parameter values for the cell broadcast message. In the communication device 210, The communication device 210, wherein the processing unit is operatively arranged to add a message with parameter data for cellular broadcast. The method of claim 13, Iii. A message identifier providing a message source and type; Ii. Identification of any data coding method used in the message; Iii. Geographic area information; Iii. Frequency of broadcast repetitions; And Iii. And input means arranged to operate to input any one or all of the number of broadcast repetitions as additional parameter data. The method according to claim 12 or 13, The mobile station (210) is a mobile phone. 14. A sensor system comprising a communication device (210) according to claim 12 or 13 for delivering a message to service subscribers of a communication network in a particular geographic area upon sensor alert. A mobile switching center 230 having means operable to require a communication device 210 calling a reservation number to verify that it is listed on a cellular broadcast authorization list. The method of claim 17, A mobile switching center (230) having means operative to add additional parameter data to the cell broadcast message sent by the communication device (210). The method of claim 17 or 18, A mobile switching center 230 having means operative to format and send a complete message to cell broadcast center 250. A home location register (240) having means for storing a cellular broadcast authentication list and operative to verify identification numbers of mobile stations against the list. A method for delivering a message to service subscribers of a communication network in a particular geographic area as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Communication device as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. A mobile switching center as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Home position register as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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