EP1004212A1

EP1004212A1 - Method for disseminating service information, system and central service information station

Info

Publication number: EP1004212A1
Application number: EP98945010A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Berwanger
Original assignee: Mannesmann AG
Current assignee: Vodafone Holding GmbH
Priority date: 1997-08-12
Filing date: 1998-07-10
Publication date: 2000-05-31
Also published as: DE19735836A1; WO1999008461A1; JP2001513611A

Abstract

The invention relates to regional dissemination of service information, to a system and to a central service information station. The central station (3) of a cellular radio network receives service information (S1,S2) and local information (01,02) from a central service information station (1). The local information received (01=20,21,etc.), fixes the region (23) where each piece of service information (S1) is to be sent by designating in each case at least one group (20,21 etc.) of cells pertaining to the cellular radio network in said region. The membership of cells of a precise respective group (20,21) is fixed or can be fixed.

Description

Process for the dissemination of service information, a system and a service information center

description

The invention relates to a method for disseminating service information, a system and a service information center.

Service information from a service information provider that is transmitted via a radio network is usually only of regional importance. Traffic information from a traffic information provider is generally only of importance for road users in a limited spatial area. Traffic jam reports are, for example, on the road on which the traffic jam occurs, in the direction of the traffic jam propagation, and on access roads at a distance from which it can be expected that a road user located there can move to the end of the traffic jam in a certain time, for example two hours, significant. Information about fog or black ice is also only of regional importance, namely where fog or black ice occurs. Therefore, regionally individualized information of a road user using service information with only the information that is important to him is desirable. However, individual identification of all road users for individual notification with service information that is important for them is too complex.

The object of the present invention is to create a method which enables a simple and effective notification of service information users, in particular road users, with service information locally relevant to them, in particular traffic information.

This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. In the following, a distinction is made between the service information provider (= service provider), who provides the information in a service information center, and the radio network used to disseminate the information with the appropriate infrastructure and the associated control computers or control centers, since information providers and Communication providers can be different technical or organizational units.

Service information in the sense of claim 1 can in particular be traffic information. However, with a method according to claim 1, other only regionally important service information can also be transmitted to service information users. The dissemination of service information within the meaning of claim 1 can include the entire transmission, that is to say the transmission from a service information provider via a radio network center, to further intermediate stations in the radio network, such as control devices (base station controllers) and radio cells (= base stations). The transmission between the service information center of a service information provider (= service provider) and a cell broadcast service center (CBSC = radio network center) as well as between the latter and base station controllers (base station controller = BSC) as well as between a BSC and at least one base station or radio cell can in particular take place via a fixed network. From a base station, which can in particular comprise an antenna, the service information is distributed further to the service information user, in particular by radio via a mobile radio network to the mobile radio terminal of the service information user. In addition to service information, the service information center also transmits location information to a radio network center, which location information specifies the spatial area in which base stations of radio cells of the radio network are intended to distribute certain service information in each case.

The region of the radio network in which one or more new or changed service information is to be distributed by sending or one or more specific previously deleted information that has been sent should no longer be distributed, in that a specific group or groups of Radio cells in the region are prompted by the name of the group or groups to send a current page. For this purpose, the radio network center and the service information center, for example, define identical or definable which group designation contains which group of radio cells. The fact that not a list of individual radio cells, but only the name of a group of radio cells and location information with (at least) a current page with the latest service information is transmitted together, ^less' information must be transferred between the service center and the traffic information center are, and the further processing of the service information and in particular their assignment to certain radio cells in the radio network center is considerably simplified.

The method according to the invention enables the very inexpensive

Dissemination of service information over a radio network. A radio network can be the radio network of a single provider or a combination of radio networks of several providers, such as C, D1, D2, E1, E2 networks.

The features of method claim 2 are particularly advantageous for the above method, but are also of importance independently.

This method efficiently simplifies the dissemination of service information by a special arrangement of the service information in one or more pages, which can also be referred to as a data packet or a data string. No, one or more service information of different lengths can be contained in each page. The fact that the page has a constant page length, which is also not changed by a fluctuating number or length of traffic information, simplifies the further processing of service data received from a service information center. The service information can be passed on identically, ie unchanged, or changed, for example with further standard information or access codes, from the radio network center of a radio network via intermediate stations to the desired radio cells of the radio network. The standardization of the data structure by pages of constant page length also simplifies the processing of traffic information in the terminal of a service information user, that is to say, for example, in the mobile device of a road user. The groups of radio cells (which can also be referred to as clusters) mentioned in claim 1 are preferably area-covering together. The area coverage of the groups is limited by the area coverage of the radio network etc. A base station can supply one or more radio cells. An area is expediently defined as the radio cell, which is covered by one or possibly also several base stations with sufficient transmission power. A transmission to a group of radio cells as defined in claim 1 can thus be the transmission of information to base stations located within this group of radio cells. The area-wide definition of the groups of radio cells ensures complete operation of the large area covered by a radio network.

The groups define disjoint areas. This means that radio cells are not assigned to different groups. However, service information can still be disseminated in any region by specifying several regions by one or more differently defined groups.

The radio network is expediently designed according to the GSM standard, since most of the subscribers can be reached with it.

Furthermore, it is particularly expedient if pages are sent from the radio cells, that is to say from the base stations located in the radio cells, at specific time intervals, in particular at 150-second intervals, in order to enable the service information users to obtain inexpensive, up-to-date information.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the further subclaims and the description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. It shows

1 schematically shows the structure of a network of computers and transmitters suitable for carrying out the method,

Fig. 2 shows schematically a spatial section of a radio network, each with hexagonal area clusters and 3 shows an example of an order from the service information center to

Radio network center.

FIG. 1 shows a service information center (= service provider center) 1, of which service information (pages S1, S2), in particular traffic information, with associated location information 01, 02 (groups 32-37; 38-43) via a data line 2 are transmitted to a radio network center 3 (Cell Broadcast Service Center = CBSC), from which they (S1, S2 via data lines 4, 5, 6 via base station controllers 7 (= Base Station Controller = BSC) 7, 8, 9 and others Data lines 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 at base stations 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, i.e. on

Sender to be retransmitted.

The base stations 15 to 17 and base station controls 7, 8, which belong to a first group 20 of radio cells, are shown in FIG. 1 in the upper rectangle 20 and base stations 18, 19 and

Base station controller 9, which is assigned to a second group 21 of radio cells, is shown in the lower rectangle 21.

FIG. 2 shows groups 20, 21, etc. of radio cells and others for illustration. Groups 32-43 of radio cells each with regions 23, 31 assigned to them are shown. A hexagon in FIG. 2 corresponds to the spatial area which is supplied with service information, in particular traffic information, by radio from a group of radio cells.

The spatial areas each assigned to a group, which have one or more radio cells, are shown here in hexagons. However, they can also have a different shape. The spatial sub-areas assigned to individual groups do not overlap with regard to the assignment. Furthermore, it is expedient if, as in FIG. 2, the spatial partial areas assigned to the individual groups together cover the entire area covered by the radio network without gaps. Groups can also be of different sizes; a group can also include several of the hexagons shown.

In Fig. 2 the end of a traffic jam on a road is shown schematically with a star 22. Now, for example, all road users for whom this traffic jam is important to be warned. This can happen, for example, as is the case here, that all service information users are to be warned in a circular region 23, because within this circle 23 with a radius of 100 km, further vehicles of service information users could move to the stagnation point within a certain time. Alternatively, it would also be possible to define the spatial area 23 in a different form, for example for a traffic jam in the direction in which the traffic jam propagates along the road.

For region 23, here the circle with a diameter of 200 km, all service information users should be warned. For this purpose, service information is sent by all base stations (here hexagonal) located within region 23, ie circle 23 (here hexagonal) groups 20, 21 etc.

With reference to FIG. 1, it will now be explained by way of example how the service information is disseminated from the (here one) service information center to the base stations in radio cells. Radio cells are spatial areas covered by a base station.

The service information center 1 receives information about the traffic from stationary detectors (not shown here) on roadways and / or detectors floating in traffic, in particular transmitters in vehicles, and / or from other sources, for example by calls. This information is processed in the service information center. In particular, service information about travel times, about suitable ways to avoid traffic obstacles, such as traffic jams, and / or forecasts of a future one

Traffic condition can be created in a computer of the service information center. This service information 2 should only be sent in the region represented by the circle 23 in FIG. 2, since it is of no significance outside this region.

The service information center 1 transmits the service information 2 on its side together with a location information 01 in the form of the group 32 or groups in which it is to be sent to the radio network center 3. The data line 2 does not necessarily have to be a direct line between the actual radio network center 3 and the service information center; a Transmission is also possible indirectly via an intermediate station. The service information is transmitted in coded form. For this purpose, standards for certain information can be defined in the service information center 1 and in terminals. For example, a certain data sequence can denote a traffic jam and it can be defined, for example, that after this

Data sequence location, position and / or length of the traffic jam etc. can be specified.

The location information 01 is determined for the service information S1. The location information 01 denotes in the form of groups 20, 21, etc. the region 23 in which the service information S1 is to be sent. In the service information center, the groups 20, 21, etc. contained in the desired region 23 are determined in the service information center and these groups 20, 21, etc. are transmitted as location information 01 with the associated service information page S1. In order to be able to transmit this location information 01 = 20, 21, etc. as compressed as possible, the same information is available or accessible in the service information center 1 and in the radio network center 3, which shows which radio cells are contained in a group, so that the radio cells belonging to the transmitted groups or their base stations can be controlled by the radio network center.

The radio network center 3 determines which radio cells are contained in the groups 20, 21, etc. Based on a program and / or a file in the radio network center 3, those base station controllers 7, 8; 9 of the radio cells determined which the designated groups 20; 21 etc. are assigned. At these base station controls 7, 8; 9 will be the service information

S1 forwarded. The base station controls 7, 8; 9 forwards the service information S1 to some or all of the base stations 15 to 19 assigned to them. The service information is forwarded as page S1 from the base station controller 7 to the base stations 15, 16, from the base station controller 8 to the base station 17 and from the

Base station controller 9 forwarded to the base stations 18, 19. The base stations 15 to 19 comprise in particular antennas via which the service information in the page S1 is sent to service information subscribers by radio, for example by GSM mobile radio. Here, the service information is sent on page S1 as a short message (SMS), in a standardized manner for mobile radio networks. The transmission takes place via a cell broadcast channel (CBCH).

Information transmitted according to the above statements can contain, in addition to, for example, an event and the location of the event, etc., also further information.

The format in which service information is transmitted is explained below. The service information is stored in so-called pages (or data strings). The pages have a given length here. A page can contain none, one or more service information, in particular traffic information. The service information contained in a page can also have different lengths, which are limited here by a maximum length. If a page is not completely filled with service information, it will be displayed in the radio network center up to the standard length, e.g. padded with a "zero" sequence or the like or sent with its short length. In the event of a change in service information in the service information center 1, for example when a traffic jam is prolonged, the page or pages in which this service information is located is changed in the service information center 1 and the page S1 is also assigned Location information (group or groups) again sent to radio network center 3 as an order. From this point in time, the radio network center 3 transmits the new updated page instead of the old page. The transmission of the pages from the radio network center 3 via base station controls 7 to 9 to base stations 15 to 19 takes place cyclically, for example in 150-second intervals, so that a service information user in his mobile radio device also receives current pages at these intervals. By using pages to be sent cyclically until an update, the order volume of the radio network center 3, that is to say the number of change orders from the service information center 1 to the radio network center 3, is considerably reduced.

If for a specific region 31 (in FIG. 2), which 31 overlaps with at least one other region 23, new or changed or information to be deleted is to be taken into account, the service information center 1 to the radio network center 3 will follow Orders submitted: 61

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For groups 38-42 in the part of region 31 that does not overlap with the other region 23, an order is transmitted for all groups together or for each group 38 to 43 individually with a send command (with new service information, if their new page is the first page there) or a change command (for new or changed or deleted service information in groups in which a page with service information is already being sent) for a page that is also transmitted, which contains this service information considered.

For groups 32-37 in the part of region 31 which overlaps with at least one further region 23, an order is transmitted for all groups or for each group 32 to 37 individually with a send command or change command for (at least) one transmitted page, which takes this service information into account and which current new or changed or deleted service

Information from the other region (s) 23 in which this group is also located is also taken into account. In the event of multiple overlaps between regions in cities etc., this considerably reduces the effort involved in transmitting orders between the service information center and the radio network center 3.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an order sent from the service information center 1 to the radio network center 3. In this case, the page S1 is to be changed from several pages that are currently on the air in group 38 because the region 23 in which group 36 is located contains service information that has already been transmitted in page 1 in group 36 2 (eg from "traffic jam on the A8 between Augsburg and

Munich "to" slow-moving traffic between Augsburg and Munich on the A8 ") and because in region 31, in which group 36 is also located, service information 3 (e.g. from" black ice in Munich "to" free lanes in Munich "). The service information center therefore sends the radio network center 3 the order to change the page S1 to radio cells in group 36 and the current page (S1), in which the unchanged service information 1, the new service Information 2 and the new service information 3 are included. The same applies to the other groups of regions 23, 31. In groups 20, 21 etc., which are only in region 23, only the service relating to region 23 is Information 2 sent while in only in the region 31 lying groups 38-43 only the service information 3 relating to region 31 is sent, while in groups 32 to 37 located in both regions both the service information 2 relating to region 23 and the service information 3 relating to region 31 are transmitted be sent.

In region 30 with only one group, new information is to be sent, which is transmitted in one page together with the group of region 30.

In the event of cancellation of service information in the service information center 1, for example due to the resolution of a traffic jam 22, this traffic information is displayed in the assigned page, for example. B. deleted by overwriting with a "zero" -Foige.

The new page is then sent from the service information center 1 to the

Radio network center 3 sent. This now sends the updated page cyclically.

The other pages previously transmitted from the service information center 1 to the traffic information center 3 continue to be cyclically unchanged from the traffic information center 3 via base station controls 7 to

9 and base stations 15 to 19 in their respective spatial area.

The pages are e.g. sent by a short messages service in a form standardized for a mobile radio network as a short message.

The radio network center has a program for carrying out the method. In particular, this may include the selection of base station controls 7 to 9 and / or base stations 15 to 19 based on the location information transmitted for a particular service information item.

The service information center also has a program for carrying out the method, which in particular assigns service information, in particular traffic information, to specific groups (= clusters) 20, 21 of

May include radio cells.

Claims

claims

1. A method for the regional distribution of service information, a radio network center (3) of a radio network being operated by a service

Information center (1) receives service information (S1.S2) and location information (01.02), the location information received (01 = 20.21 etc.) the region (23) in which specific service information (S1) are to be sent by designating at least one group (20, 21, etc.) of

Define radio cells of the radio network in this region, the membership of radio cells to exactly one group (20, 21) being fixed or definable.

2. The method according to claim 1, for disseminating service information (S1.S2) wherein a radio network center (3) of a radio network from a service information center (1) receives service information (S1.S2) and location information (01.02) , the location information (01) the region (23) in which certain service information (in page S1) of radio cells (15, 16, 17;

18, 19) of the radio network are to be sent, the service information being contained in at least one page (S1) with a page length which is constant regardless of the number and length of the service information contained therein, and the page (S1) being the radio network center (3) is identical or changed to that of the

Location information (01) designated radio cells (15,16,17; 18,19) of the radio network is passed on.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that from the radio network center (3) to each of a designated group (20,21) assigned radio cells (15,16,17; 18,19) all of them (15,16 , 17; 18, 19) service information currently to be transmitted is transmitted in at least one current page (S1) and this page (S1) is sent in the radio cells (15 to 19). 61

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4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the service information is traffic information and that the service information center is a traffic information center.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the service information center to the radio network center, if new or changed service information is to be sent, sends a complete page containing at least this service information.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a new service information to be sent, which is to be sent in a region (30), the service information center (1) to the

Radio network center (3) a command and a page, which sends this new information and, as far as existing, to be sent unchanged, already sent service information of this page (S3) together with location information by designating the group or groups contained in the region (30) .

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a service information to be sent further, but with a change in a region, the service information center (1) to the radio network center (3) by a change command, a page and location information Designation of one or more groups contained in the region sends, the page containing this changed service information instead of the previous version of this service information and, if existing, unchanged to be sent previously transmitted service information of this page.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a service information to be deleted from a region (31), the service information center (1) to the radio network center (3) a change command, a page and location information by designating the in this Region (31) contains groups (32 - 43), whereby the service information to be deleted is deleted from the page.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a group (32 to 37) which is in several regions (31, 23), in each of which a new and / or changed and / or deleted service information (service -Information 2,3) is present, the new addition and / or change and / or deletion of this service information from the service information center (1) to the radio network center

(3) is transmitted by a command (change / page), a page (S1) and location information (32 to 37) designating the group (32 to 37), the page (S1) containing all current new additions and / or changes and / or deletions for this group (32 to 37) are taken into account.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of new and / or changed and / or deleted service information for a region (31) with more than one group (32 to 37) from the service information center to the radio network center a command, a page and a group name (32) as location information for each of these groups (32 to 37) is transmitted individually.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several pages are sent from the service information center to the radio network center in the form of one order per page and per group instead of only one page when the new and / or changed and / or service information to be deleted affects more than one page.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some groups each contain several radio cells.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that zero, one or more service information can be contained in a page.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the service information center and in the radio network center there is an identical file or a same partial program with an assignment of radio cells or of areas served by them to exactly one group in each case and is used .

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more pages are sent cyclically in a radio cell.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several pages are sent in a radio cell.

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radio network is a mobile radio network, in particular according to the GSM standard.

18. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pages are sent via the short massage service / cell broadcast of a mobile radio network.

19. System (radio network center 3) with a program for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, a memory for this program, a controller for processing this program, an input and a memory for a service information center (service provider center 1) transmitted service -

Information and location information, and an exit for service information (pages S1 etc.) to base stations (7,8,9).

20. System according to claim 19; characterized in that it also has a memory with a file or a partial program or an access device to a file by assigning radio lines to each group.

21. Service information center (1) with a program for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, a memory for the program, a controller for processing this program, a memory and an output for a system (radio network center 3) to be transmitted -Information and location information.

22. Service information center according to claim 21, characterized in that it also has a file or an access device for a file or a part program relating to the assignment of regions to groups.

23. Service information center according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the controller is a processor.