KR100840886B1 - Apparatus and method of cell broadcasting - Google Patents

Abstract

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 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 sends a broadcast message to the called 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 that avoids delays caused by human operators.

Communication networks, cell broadcasting systems, broadcast messages, mobile stations, service subscribers

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 danger alerts.

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 operator may be difficult to obtain or too slow to use in an emergency, and the nature and location of the abrupt risks may be accurately reported to the second party. Valuable time can be wasted in explaining or telling the operator that this is 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 routed through the MSC 230 to the cell broadcast center (CBS) 250, and thus the operator of the cell broadcast entity 104 ( 102 bypasses the processing of contacting and instructing.

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 / alarm') providing the 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), then the parameters of the network (eg, MSC 230) may vary depending 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 from which base station or base stations 26 the 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 invention, the MSC 230 operates to request verification that the MS 210 calling the reservation number is listed on the cellular broadcast authorization 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 invention, the HLR 240 operates to store a cellular broadcast authorization list and verify mobile station identification numbers against the list.

Claims (24)

In a method for delivering a message to service subscribers of a communication network within a particular geographic area: Calling the reservation number by the communication device 210; Verifying that the communication device is listed on a cellular broadcast authentication list; Selecting a message for cell broadcasting by the communication device; Sending a message for the broadcast to the called number; Associating the message with additional geographic area data; And If the mobile station is verified to be authenticated, Selecting the geographic area for broadcasting from the additional geographic area data; Broadcasting the message to the service subscribers in the selected geographic area. The method of claim 1, Upon receipt of a call to the reservation number from communication device 210, a serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 230 communicates that the given identification number of communication device 210 is authorized to transmit a broadcast message. Query the HLR (240) in use whether it matches the one listed by the Home Location Register (HLR) 240 as corresponding to the device. delete delete delete The method of claim 1, And wherein said additional geographic area data is formatted in Extended Markup Language (XML). delete The method according to claim 1 or 2, Message sent by the communication device (210) is predefined. delete delete The method of claim 1, Any or all base stations whose cells are adjacent or overlap with the selected geographic area are also selected for broadcasting. In a system for delivering a message to a communication network for broadcasting within a particular geographic area: As communication device 210, operations for calling a reservation number, acknowledging verification that the communication device is authenticated, selecting a message to broadcast, and sending the message for cell broadcasting to the called number. Said communication device (210) comprising a processing unit programmed to facilitate; Network elements (210, 230, 240) for associating additional geographic area data for the cell broadcast message; And A communication network for selecting the additional geographic area data for the cell broadcast message and broadcasting the message to service subscribers in the specific geographic area. The method of claim 12, The network element is one of a group of the communication device (210), a mobile switching center (230), and a home location register (240). 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. Frequency of broadcast repetitions; And Iii. Input means for the communication device configured to operate to input any one or all of the number of broadcast repetitions as additional parameter data. delete The method of claim 12, Further comprising a sensor of the communication device (210) for delivering a message to service subscribers of a communication network in a particular geographic area upon sensor alert. The method of claim 12, And a mobile switching center (230) having means for operating the communication device (210) calling the reservation number to request verification of what is listed on the cellular broadcast authorization list. delete The method of claim 12, Further comprising a mobile switching center (230) having means operative to format the complete message and transmit it to the cell broadcast center (250). The method of claim 12, And a home location register (240) having means for storing a cellular broadcast authentication list and for verifying identification numbers of mobile stations against the list. delete delete delete delete

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