TWI415489B - Geography-based filtering of broadcasts - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication system for filtering multi-destination messages is disclosed. The communication system includes a number of transmitters, an interface, a first filter, and a second filter. The number of transmitters are configured to send information wirelessly to a number of wireless terminals. The interface is configured to receive messages intended for at least some of the number of wireless terminals, where the number of wireless terminals include a wireless terminal. The first filter is configured to determine a subset of the number of transmitters that generally correspond to a predetermined geographic criteria, where the subset are configured to transmit a message. The second filter is configured to determine if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria.

Description

Geographically based filtering of broadcasts

The present disclosure relates to communication systems, and more particularly to location-aware communication systems that transmit messages to multiple terminals in other things.

Current wireless broadcast and multicast services can send information to all users (ie, broadcast) or specific users (ie, multicast), which less considers the location of the user. Today, the location of the target user can be controlled up to the cell sector level. For many services related to the user and the broadcaster (for example, to provide the viewer with information about the outcome of similar events being held elsewhere during a sporting event), this coarse positional accuracy may be sufficient. However, the coarse level of position control (ie, cell sector resolution) is not always able to effectively identify users who need to receive specific information or who are interested in a particular piece of information and they do not need to receive specific information or Users who are not interested in specific information.

Various types of broadcast and multicast services have been defined or are currently being defined for use in wireless networks. These include the Multimedia Broadcasting Multicast Service (MBMS) for the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and the Universal Mobile Ground Service (UMTS) and the Evolved UMTS Network, which are powered by the Third Generation Mobile Communications. The Partnership Program (3GPP) defines. The Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) has been defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and maintained by 3GPP. Also defined are the Broadcast Service (BCAST) defined by OMA, the Broadcast/Multicast Service (BCMCS) defined by 3GPP2, Digital Video Broadcasting (BVB-H) and MediaFLO ^{T M,} and various other services. These services will enable different types of information (eg, video clips, text messages, audio messages, and multimedia messages) to be sent to specific groups of wireless users and to a specific geographic area (potentially defined to the cell sector level and by All users in a particular wireless network to provide services). These services use a variety of types of coarse filters (eg, identification of multicast groups, identification of specific cell sectors, identification of larger geographic areas containing multiple cell sectors) to select a particular group of target users.

In order to reach all relevant or affected users by conventional techniques, information is sent to relevant and affected users as well as to unrelated and unaffected users. This increases the overall level of information loading, and information loading can be annoying, potentially increasing the cost of network providers and users and making it more difficult to alert users to the most important information (eg, emergency information).

There is an emergency multicast service that calls a phone number to deliver a setup message. For example, an alert phone call can be made when a hurricane strikes. Each phone number in the group is part of the multicast. The phone number is selected based on the address associated with the phone number.

Some weather and emergency notification systems use radio or television broadcasts to deliver information. This information is sent to receive each of a particular channel or signal. Typically, the notification broadcast indicates the location with which the weather or emergency is associated. The user can manually respond to the notification or not.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a communication system for filtering multi-destination messages. The communication system includes a plurality of transmitters, an interface, a first filter, and a second filter. The plurality of transmitters are configured to wirelessly transmit information to a plurality of wireless terminals. The interface is configured to receive a message intended for use by at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprises a wireless terminal. The first filter is configured to determine that the plurality of transmitters generally correspond to a subset of a predetermined geographic standard, wherein the subset is configured to transmit a message. The second filter is configured to determine if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for filtering multi-destination messages. In one step, a message intended for at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals is received, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless terminal. A subset of the plurality of transmitters is determined, wherein the subset generally corresponds to a predetermined geographic standard. Use this subset to wirelessly transmit messages to multiple wireless terminals. Determining if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria.

In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a communication system for filtering multi-destination messages. The communication system includes means for receiving a message, a first member for determining, a member for transmitting, and a second member for determining. A means for receiving a message for receiving a message intended for use in at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprises a wireless terminal. A first component for determining is used to determine a subset of the plurality of transmitters, wherein the subset generally corresponds to a predetermined geographic standard. The means for transmitting is used to wirelessly transmit information to a plurality of wireless terminals using the subset. A second component for determining to determine if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria.

In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a communication device for filtering a multi-destination message, wherein the communication device includes a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to: receive a message intended for use by at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless terminal; determining a subset of the plurality of transmitters, wherein the subset Generally corresponding to a predetermined geographic standard; determining whether the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic standard; and using the subset to wirelessly transmit the message to the plurality of wireless terminals. The memory is coupled to the processor.

Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the embodiments provided herein. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

The following description merely provides a preferred exemplary embodiment and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the following description of the preferred exemplary embodiments is provided to provide a description of the preferred embodiments. It will be appreciated that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of the components without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

An embodiment provides for the use of location criteria for potential target users to filter information transmitted by broadcast and multicast services such that the proportion of users receiving and receiving information is significantly increased without reducing the number of such users. method. The method and device can be applied as long as the location plays a role in determining the group of target users.

There is a difference between the information received by a mobile terminal and the information received by a user of a mobile terminal. In general, filtering increases the number of users of mobile terminals that receive information and can actually use the received information. This can be achieved, in part or in full, by increasing the proportion of mobile terminals that can use the received information on behalf of the user who can use the received information. The mobile terminal may play a minor or ineffective role in supporting further filtering. In further filtering, the granularity of the target is accurate. The mobile terminal that can use the received information can also be completed by increasing the proportion of mobile terminals that receive information on the user who can use the received information. In this case, the mobile terminal plays a larger role in supporting further filtering. effect. Some examples of this embodiment are further provided herein.

In one embodiment, a novel filter based on location information and location related criteria is disclosed. The broadcast sender is allowed to define a particular location criterion that the intended target mobile terminal satisfies to enable it to receive broadcast information or deliver broadcast information to the user, or to receive or deliver information with a particular priority indication. The standard may be included in various embodiments, but is not limited to the following: (a) targets within or outside of certain specified geographic regions as specified by different two-dimensional geometric shapes, such as circles, ellipses, or polygons. The current location of the mobile terminal. Each shape can be defined by specifying the coordinates of some points (eg, latitude, longitude) plus their geometric properties and dimensions. For example, a circular area can be specified by the coordinates of its center plus its radius. Polygons can be specified using the coordinates of each of their vertices.

(b) The target mobile terminal is above or below the ground or above or below the current height of the local ground plane. The height can be specified as a range, and the target mobile terminal needs to be within or outside the range.

(c) the previous location of the target mobile terminal as defined in (a) and / or (b) at a particular prior time or during a prior period or at any time in the past.

(d) A future location of a target mobile terminal as defined in (a) and / or (b) at a particular future time or during a future period or at any time in the future. The future location may be based on an inference of the current movement of the mobile terminal, or in some instances, based on a known intent of the user of the mobile terminal at or near a location at a future location or outside or at a location Claim. For example, the user may have entered a target address in a routing function that enters the mobile terminal.

(e) the location of the mobile terminal as in (a), (b), (c) and/or (d) above, but in the form of a municipality - for example, using a specific correspondence address, mailing address The scope, the name of a street or group of streets, the name and/or address of a building, a city/county/state boundary, or a well-known location (eg, airport, shopping center, stadium, theater, hotel). In the case of altitude, the basement height below the ground or underneath can be used.

(f) Expressed as the current speed of a range of target mobile terminals, the target mobile terminal is traveling within or outside of the range to suit the standard.

(g) Expressed as the current orientation (direction of movement) of a range of target mobile terminals, the mobile terminal is traveling within or outside of the range to suit the criterion.

(h) The past and/or future speed of the movement of the target mobile terminal and the past and/or future direction.

Any combination of the above criteria can be used to provide a finer level of filtering by combining two or more of the above criteria using logical "and", logical "or", and logical "no" operations. For example, information about the blocking of the main fast line in one direction rather than the other may be added to identify the mobile mobile terminal that is moving directly adjacent to the blocking (eg, a user who may be considering entering the express line) (logic The "or" current position, speed, and orientation hints may be associated with the location criteria of the mobile terminal that reached the blockage before the block was cleared. In another example, a hurricane alert can be sent to a target mobile terminal in a high building that is at a height above a certain ground level to place it at greater risk and is therefore notified. In yet another example, information about lost items (eg, watches, jewelry, money) found in a shopping mall can be sent to the target mobile terminal (which is at the mall prior to discovery or prior to discovery) Inside or nearby).

The above criteria may be combined with some non-geographical standards, such as the nature of the broadcast message (eg, personal, work-related, public, or emergency), when the information becomes important (eg, the date of the sale event) And the category of the sender (for example, the user's wireless network operator, friends/relatives, employers, public safety personnel). Any filtering operation can then combine all available criteria and determine validity (eg, priority to the user), patterns of presentation of information (eg, whether auditory, visual, and/or tactile signals are used) and possible time to present information ( For example, whether immediately, at some defined later time or only when the user makes a request later to be aware of the new information).

In various embodiments, the filtering operation itself may be performed by the network and/or the user's wireless terminal and/or user. The manual filtering of the user can be regarded as the last resort method, and should be avoided as much as possible, because the user may delay and error and interfere with the user when the user ends the abolition of the message. In the case of network filtering, the network (eg, Wireless Network Mobile Switching Center (MSC), GPRS Service Support Node (SGSN), Call Server Control Function (CSCF), Base Station Subsystem (BSS), Radio Network The controller (RNC) can obtain information about the location of the mobile terminal or by querying another entity (eg, a Location Determination Entity (PDE) or a Service Action Location Center (SMLC) or User Equipment (UE) itself) Information about the current position, altitude, speed, and position of the intended target mobile terminal. The positioning methods that can be used include such existing capabilities as, for example, enhanced cell identification (ID), arriving uplink time difference (U-TDOA), enhanced measurement time difference (E-OTD), and arriving measurement time difference (OTDOA). , assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) and / or GPS. Future positioning systems such as Galileo may also be used in some embodiments.

In addition, the communication network can retrieve historical location information previously acquired and stored or query some servers to obtain this information. The network may also attempt to infer or otherwise predict the future location of the mobile terminal or a range of possible future locations based on, for example, the current location, speed, and location of the mobile terminal. Based on this location information and the location criteria associated with the broadcast, the network can determine whether specific broadcast information should or should not be sent to the mobile terminal.

Alternatively, based on location information and location criteria, the network may determine that broadcast information should be sent to the mobile terminal, but with some priority or indication indicating the importance level to assist the mobile terminal in deciding whether and when to access the information. The priority or similar indication can be determined by the importance of the broadcast information itself and the degree of matching of the location information of the mobile terminal with the associated location criteria. The priority indication can then be followed by an appropriate method of alerting the user of the mobile terminal to the availability of information. For example, for particularly urgent information that a user should immediately access, the mobile terminal can immediately alert the user by an audible, visual, and/or tactile (eg, vibrating) cues based on the priority of the high indication. Priority may alternatively indicate that the user should be quick but not immediately accessible to less urgent but still potentially important information. In this case, the mobile terminal may only provide a low level of audible indication (eg, a number of snoring) and/or visual cues (eg, a screen representation).

In another embodiment, the information may be broadcast or multicast to a set of mobile terminals based on coarse filtering criteria, such as membership of a multicast group and/or within a particular cell sector of a wireless network. service. This information can be accompanied by associated location criteria. The mobile terminal will obtain current location information of the mobile terminal, for example, by using, for example, A-GPS, GPS, E-OTD, Advanced Forward Link Triangulation (A-FLT), OTDOA, Cell Sector ID, Enhanced These existing positioning methods of the cell ID or some combination of these methods, or in the future, by using a method that can use a novel satellite positioning system such as the European GALILEO system. The mobile terminal can also capture previous location information and predict future location information by reading from the immediately preceding location or by historical means. For example, most mornings, the same path can be taken in a work commute, so that the next day, the mobile terminal can predict another work commute similar to the previous commute or can predict when the position change begins to replicate the observations in the previous commute The other job is commuting.

The terminal compares the location information with the location criteria of the broadcast information and determines if the information should be presented to the user, and if so, what priority. Once the terminal has determined whether the user should be presented or warned of the existence of the information and may have acquired a particular priority, the terminal may process the information as if the network had made this determination and provided any priority information - for example, Immediately alert the user to any particularly urgent information or less urgent, potentially delayed alerts that provide lower priority information. The table lists exemplary customized alerts for various categories of location-based messages. Users can interact with the application or screen of a web or wireless terminal to configure alerts. In some cases, an alert may be relayed by the terminal to other devices in the personal area network (eg, a TV or computer) to increase the likelihood that the user is aware of the alert.

In the case where the mobile terminal performs filtering based on the location information included in the broadcasted information and the location information of the terminal, it is possible to determine whether the information should be provided to the user before all the information has been received. If it is determined that the information is not presented to the mobile terminal, the terminal may interrupt the reception of the broadcast information, thereby potentially saving terminal resources (eg, battery, processor, memory) and for receiving broadcast information (which may not have been The use of reverse link resources as necessary) and/or the release of terminal resources for possible costs for other tasks.

It is also possible to use filtering in the network and in the terminal - for example, coarse filtering in the network and away from the mobile terminal and finer in the terminal based on the approximate location information indicated by the terminal present in the specific cell and the cell sector More comprehensive filtering. Two filtering modes can also be used to support a subset of terminals that do not themselves support filtering - in which case the network can perform filtering on such subsets of the terminal, and other terminals capable of performing filtering themselves do this.

In some cases, the communication network may have little or no knowledge of the location and/or identification of the intended wireless terminal. For example, when the wireless network does not know or unreliably know the WLAN or WLAN location, the user who is accessing a WLAN is ignorant of the location. When a potential acceptor mobile terminal passively acts (eg, when the wireless terminal is not required to support a call or other user-related activity) and cannot identify itself as a potential acceptor for a particular broadcast network, any Wireless technology can be ignorant of one of the identification codes and locations. This can occur to reduce signal overhead or if the broadcast/multicast solution does not recognize some or all of the acceptor users. In such cases, the network may need to broadcast information to a group of mobile terminals that are much larger than the intended recipient and rely on location filtering in the mobile terminal to properly receive the information and deliver it to the user.

In another embodiment, the network or mobile terminal may use a database or other method to convert geographic location information (eg, latitude/longitude) into a municipal form (eg, street address, building identification) and this and any Compare with the location standards associated with the town. Network or mobile terminals can also use location information and standards for town and geographic (eg, latitude/longitude) types. For example, in order to determine whether a mobile mobile terminal may reach the congestion before the congestion on the primary fast line is likely to be cleared, it may be necessary to determine that the mobile terminal is actually traveling along the express line by continuous geographical location, geography The location-to-town conversion or comparison with the town mapping information confirms the location along the express line. Other town mappings may include identifying country/state/county/city boundaries. Depending on the location of the mobile terminal relative to the town boundary, the message can be implemented on the mobile terminal.

Some illustrative applications are listed below: (a) providing a localized emergency notification service to notify or predict a user's possible or real threat or danger in a building, in a particular area of a building, or in any other area, such as , fire, terrorist incidents, hurricanes, earthquakes, storm surges, industrial accidents, structural failures and/or damage to buildings, roads, bridges or tunnels.

(b) Notifying the user of the current or future estimated traffic conditions. The notice may also include possible alternative driving directions.

(c) notify the user of the current or anticipated delay and cancellation of public transportation and may indicate alternative routes and services.

(d) Notifying the user of current or future weather conditions at their current location or future expected location.

(e) Proximity to a user who was previously in a location or adjacent - for example, it may be an eyewitness to a traffic accident or may have been in contact with an infectious disease.

(f) advertising of products, services, sales and other opportunities to users in specific stores, shopping malls, entertainment areas or any other location (eg, airports, hotels, train stations and/or sports or concert venues) .

(g) Provide travel or sightseeing information to users at specific locations or to specific locations.

Referring first to Figure 1A, a block diagram of one embodiment of a communication system 100-1 is shown. For example, satellite 132 is used by mobile terminal 128 to determine its location using a satellite positioning system (SPS). Such satellites 132 may be from Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, GLONASS, NAVSTAR, systems using satellites from a combination of such systems, or any SPS developed in the future. As used herein, SPS is also understood to include pseudolite systems.

A plurality of mobile terminals 128 are in communication with a plurality of base stations 120. Mobile terminal refers to a device such as a cellular telephone, a wireless communication device, a user device, or other personal communication system (PCS) device. The base station controller 111 is in communication with the base station 120. System controller 112 communicates directly or indirectly with base station controller 111. Some embodiments may have any number of base station controllers 111 and base stations 120.

The multi-destination database 110 holds messages intended to be broadcast or multicast to one or more mobile terminals 128. Each message has a corresponding geographic location standard defined in the geographic location criteria database 116. The geographic location criteria can be point, area, volume, height, and/or town boundary. This embodiment selects base station 120 for a particular message that generally corresponds to a predetermined geographic location criteria. In this embodiment, each base station 120 corresponds to a cell sector. A cell sector corresponding to the geographic location standard is determined and its corresponding base station 120 is selected. The base station 120 broadcasts the message and the mobile terminal 128 in the geographic location standard accepts the message. The various data storage and databases can be any storage medium readable by the machine.

Referring to FIG. 1B, a block diagram of another embodiment of a communication system 100-2 is shown. In this embodiment, by selecting the appropriate base station 120 and communication channel, their mobile terminals 128 in a predetermined geographic location standard can multicast the message.

This embodiment is known for the location 106 of each mobile terminal, the location of which is stored in the mobile terminal location repository 106. In this embodiment, system controller 112 or some other location in communication network 100-2 determines the location of the mobile terminal. The location determination techniques described herein can be used in a variety of wireless communication networks, such as wireless wide area networks (WWANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wireless personal area networks (WPANs), and the like. The terms "network" and "system" are often used interchangeably. WWAN can be a coded multi-directional proximity (CDMA) network, a time-sharing multi-directional proximity (TDMA) network, a frequency division multiplexing access (FDMA) network, and an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) network. Single-carrier frequency division multiplexing access (SC-FDMA) network. A CDMA network may implement one or more radio access technologies (RATs) such as cdma2000, wideband CDMA (W-CDMA), and the like. Cdma2000 includes the IS-95, IS-2000, and IS-856 standards. The TDMA network can implement the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), the Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System (D-AMPS), or some other RAT. GSM and W-CDMA are described in documents from an association known as the "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP). Cdma2000 is described in a document from an association called "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2). 3GPP and 3GPP2 documents are publicly available. The WLAN can be an IEEE 802.11x network, and the WPAN can be a Bluetooth network, IEEE 802.15x, or some other type of network. These techniques can also be used for any combination of WWAN, WLAN, and/or WPAN.

Referring next to Figure 2A, a block diagram of one embodiment of a mobile terminal 128-1 is shown. Under the control of the processor 204, the mobile terminal 128 can perform several functions. This embodiment is capable of independently determining the position by a position determining circuit 208. The wireless transceiver 216 receives the message for storage in the received message database 220. The predetermined geographic location criteria are received as metadata in the same message or are independent of the message and stored in the location standard repository 118. The application alert criteria 224 is compared to the accepted message to notify the user via the alert circuit 212.

Referring to Figure 2B, a block diagram of another embodiment of a mobile terminal 128-2 is shown. This embodiment does not determine the location by itself, but uses other portions of the communication system 100 to determine the location. The message is multicast to the mobile terminal 128-2 such that if received by the wireless transceiver, it is processed for an alert.

Referring next to Figure 2C, a block diagram of yet another embodiment of mobile terminal 128-3 is shown. This embodiment does not store local alarm criteria to the mobile terminal 128-3. The alert to be used is sent with the message or sent in a different message. The alarm circuit 212 performs a remotely specified alarm in the message. The user of the mobile terminal 128-3 can set an alarm by the system controller so that the selected alarm can be implemented without the mobile terminal 128-3 storing various alarms.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a diagram of one embodiment of a geographic layout 300-1 shows a plurality of mobile terminals 128. The resolution of the communication system resolves the geographic location to a particular cell 304-2 such that the corresponding base station 120 can send a message. In this embodiment, the predetermined geographic location 304-1 is smaller than the cell area. The three mobile terminals 128-1, 128-2, 128-3 are within predetermined geographic location criteria 304-1 such that they accept messages for processing. When some of the mobile terminals 128-4, 128-5, 128-6 are in the cell area, they receive the message but do not use the message after checking its location against the predetermined geographic location standard 304-1.

Referring next to FIG. 3B, a diagram showing another embodiment of a geographic layout 300-2 depicts a plurality of mobile terminals 128. This embodiment shows the direction and speed of travel with the length of the arrows and arrows, respectively. The geographic location criteria in this embodiment are specific roads for traffic that extend in a certain direction. For example, mobile terminals 128-1 and 128-2 travel along the same road in one direction while mobile terminals 128-3 and 128-6 travel in opposite directions. Geographical criteria may be defined to include 128-1 and 128-2 and/or 128-3 and 128-6. The message sent to the mobile terminal of the geographic location standard may be a traffic alert that is closely related to the street on which it is traveling. The seven mobile terminals 128 are within the communication range 304 of the selected base station 120, but for this embodiment, only the two travel in the correct direction to be included in the geographic location.

Referring to FIG. 3C, a diagram showing yet another embodiment of a geographic layout 300-3 depicts a plurality of mobile terminals 128. This embodiment broadcasts a message to a third 304-2 of a circular cell transmitted from the base station. The message indicates that the geographic location standard 304-1 is limited to one of the squares in the third 304-2. Only two mobile terminals 128-1, 128-2 will accept and use messages for possible alerts. When the location of the mobile terminal is determined to be outside of the geographic location criteria, the other mobile terminal 128 can receive the message but will either discontinue the reception or ignore it or provide it to the user with a low priority.

Referring next to Figure 4A, a flow diagram of one embodiment of a process 400-1 for filtering multi-destination messages is shown. The depicted portion of the process begins at block 404 where the alarms are configured for various message types. This configuration can occur via the mobile terminal 128 or via an application or network interface to the system controller 112. In block 408, system controller 112 receives a message and location criteria for the message. The message and the location criteria can be stored in the database 110, 116. In block 412, a transmission resource for a geographic location criterion is determined, which can include selecting a group of a plurality of base stations and/or a plurality of base stations that cover the geographic location criteria.

In block 416, this embodiment broadcasts a message with embedded location standard metadata. In block 420, the message is received by one or more mobile terminals 128. In block 424, the mobile terminal 128 determines its location or uses an external relay to the location of the mobile terminal 128. The geolocation criteria are analyzed in block 428 and it is determined in block 432 whether the location of the mobile terminal 128 meets the criteria. When the location criteria are not met, process 400-1 ends and the processing of the message stops.

The accepted message is further processed to determine and present any appropriate alerts. In block 436, the category of the message is determined. These categories correspond to the grouping of message types configured in block 404. For example, a severe weather alert can be placed at the same level as an aircraft delay notification. Once the category is known, the configured alert can be passed in block 440. For example, this category can cause vibration alerts and screen messages. Once the alert is delivered, in this embodiment, the process ends. Some embodiments may continue to deliver alerts until they are permanently or temporarily closed.

Referring to Figure 4B, a flow diagram of another embodiment of a process 400-2 for filtering multi-destination messages is shown. This embodiment is identical to the embodiment of Figure 4A up to block 416 when executed. From block 416 to block 424, the location of the mobile terminal is determined using the mobile terminal 128 alone, external to the mobile terminal 128, or by a combination of the mobile terminal and other components. The receiving of the message begins in block 421.

Once the sufficient message is received to know the geographic location criteria or the geographic location criteria is otherwise received, the criteria is analyzed in block 428. When the location of the mobile terminal 128 does not satisfy the location criteria, the remainder of the message is not received and the process 400-2 ends. If the criteria are met, the remainder of the information is received in block 423, and blocks 436 and 440 are then completed in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG. 4A.

Referring next to Figure 4C, a flow diagram of yet another embodiment of a process 400-3 for filtering multi-destination messages is shown. This embodiment operates the same as the embodiment of FIG. 4A until block 412. In block 414, a mobile terminal within the location criteria is determined. The system controller 112 knows the location of each mobile terminal and can determine which is appropriate for the location criteria. The message is multicast to one or more mobile terminals 128 using an appropriate base station 120.

Once the message is received in block 420, it is assumed that the location criteria are appropriate. Processing continues to blocks 436 and 440 to analyze and communicate the alert. After block 440, process 400-3 ends.

Referring to Figure 5, a block diagram of one embodiment of a communication system 500 for filtering multi-destination messages is shown. The communication system includes a receiving member 504 for receiving a message, a first determining member 508, a transmitting member 512, and a second determining member 516. The receiving component 504 for receiving a message is for receiving a message intended for use in at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless terminal. The first determining component 508 is operative to determine a subset of the plurality of transmitters, wherein the subset generally corresponds to a predetermined geographic standard. The transmitting component 512 is configured to wirelessly transmit information to the plurality of wireless terminals using the subset. The second determining component 516 is operative to determine if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria.

Specific details are given in the above description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments may be practiced without the specific details. For example, the circuits may be shown in block diagrams so that the embodiments do not become obscured in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Also, it should be noted that the embodiments may be described as one of a flowchart, a block diagram, a block diagram, a block diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a continuous process, multiple of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations can be rearranged. When the operation of a process is completed, it terminates, but it may have additional steps not included in the figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a program, a subroutine, a subroutine, and the like. When the process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to the function returning to the call function or the main function.

Furthermore, embodiments can be implemented by hardware, software, scripting language, firmware, intermediate software, microcode, hardware description language, and/or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, intermediate software, scripting languages, and/or microcode, the code or code segments that perform the necessary tasks can be stored in a machine-readable medium, such as a storage medium. A code segment or machine executable instruction may represent a program, a function, a subroutine, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a package software, an instruction code, a category, or an instruction, a data. Any combination of structure and / or program description. A code segment can be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, and/or memory content. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be communicated, transmitted or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, messaging, token delivery, network transmission, and the like.

The implementation of the techniques described above can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, such techniques can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. For hardware implementation, the processing unit can be implemented in one or more of a special application integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSPD), a programmable logic device ( PLD), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), processor, controller, microcontroller, microprocessor, other electronic units designed to perform the above functions, and/or combinations thereof.

For firmware and/or software implementations, the methodology can be implemented by modules (eg, procedures, functions, etc.) that perform the functions described herein. The methodology described herein can be implemented using any machine readable medium that does include instructions. For example, the software code can be stored in a memory (eg, a memory of a mobile terminal) and can be executed by a processor (eg, a microprocessor of a data machine). The memory can be implemented within the processor or external to the processor. As used herein, the term "memory" means any type of long-term, short-term, volatile, non-volatile or other storage medium and is not limited to any particular type or type of memory of memory, or The type of media in which the memory is stored.

Moreover, as used herein, the term "storage medium" may mean one or more devices for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, magnetic memory. , a disk storage medium, an optical storage medium, a flash memory device, and/or other machine readable medium for storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" includes, but is not limited to, portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels, and/or various other media capable of storing, containing, or carrying instructions and/or data.

Although the principles of the present disclosure have been described above in connection with the specific apparatus and methods, it is to be understood that this description is only illustrative and not a limitation of the scope of the disclosure.

100-1. . . Communication Systems

100-2. . . Communication system/communication network

106. . . Mobile terminal location database

110. . . Multi-destination database

111. . . Base station controller

112. . . System controller

116. . . Geographical standard database

118. . . Location standard database

120. . . Base station

128. . . Mobile terminal

128-1, 128-2, 128-3, 128-4, 128-5, 128-6. . . Mobile terminal

132. . . satellite

204. . . processor

208. . . Position determination circuit

212. . . Alarm circuit

216. . . Wireless transceiver

220. . . Accepted message database

224. . . Alert criteria

300-1. . . Geographical layout

300-2. . . Geographical layout

300-3. . . Geographical layout

304. . . Communication range

304-1. . . Geographical standard

304-2. . . Community

504. . . Receiving member

508. . . First determining member

512. . . Transmission component

516. . . Second determining member

1A and 1B depict block diagrams of an embodiment of a communication system; FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C depict block diagrams of an embodiment of a mobile terminal; and FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C depict multiple mobile terminals. A diagram of an embodiment of a geographic layout; Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate a flow diagram of an embodiment of a process for filtering multi-destination messages; and Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a communication system.

Similar components and/or features may have the same reference numerals in the drawings. In addition, various components of the same type can be discerned by reference to the reference numerals followed by a dash and a second label identifying the similar components. If only the first reference number is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any of the similar components having the same first reference number, regardless of the second reference number.

Claims (26)

A communication system for filtering multi-destination messages, the communication system comprising: a plurality of transmitters configured to wirelessly transmit information to a plurality of wireless terminals; an interface configured to receive the plurality of destinations for use in the plurality of At least some wireless terminal messages of the wireless terminal, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless terminal; a first filter configured to determine that the plurality of transmitters generally correspond to one of a predetermined geographic standard a set, wherein the subset is configured to transmit a message; and a second filter configured to determine whether the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria. A communication system for requesting a multi-destination message, wherein the wireless terminal receives the message. A communication system for filtering a multi-destination message according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined geographic standard corresponds to at least one of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional geometric shape, a town boundary, a height, a speed, or a traveling direction. A communication system for requesting a multi-destination message, wherein the second filter determines whether the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criterion based on a past location of the wireless terminal. A communication system for requesting a multi-destination message, wherein the second filter determines whether the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criterion based on a predicted future location of one of the wireless terminals. The communication system of claim 1 for filtering a multi-destination message, wherein at least one of the first filter and the second filter are geographically separated. A communication system for requesting a multi-destination message, wherein the second filter is co-located with the wireless terminal. A communication system for requesting a multi-destination message of claim 1, further comprising an alert function configured to determine which alert mechanism to initiate for the message. A communication system for filtering a multi-destination message of claim 8, wherein the alerting mechanism comprises at least one of: a status light, a screen message, a sound, or a vibration. The communication system of claim 1 for filtering a multi-destination message, wherein the message includes metadata specifying the predetermined geographic standard. A method for filtering a multi-destination message, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a message intended for use in at least some of a plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless terminal; determining a plurality of transmitters a subset, wherein the subset generally corresponds to a predetermined geographic standard; the subset is used to wirelessly transmit the message to the plurality of wireless terminals; and determining whether the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria. The method of claim 11 for filtering a multi-destination message, further comprising receiving the message based at least in part on the determining step of the second listing The steps of interest. The method of claim 11 for filtering a multi-destination message, further comprising the steps of: starting to receive the message with the wireless terminal; and interrupting the receiving of the message based on the second listed determining step. A method for filtering a multi-destination message of claim 11, wherein the determining step of leaving the first one of the steps performs the second listed determining step. A method for filtering a multi-destination message of claim 11, wherein the first listed determining step comprises determining that the subset is a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters capable of transmitting to the predetermined geographic standard Substeps. The method of claim 11 for filtering a multi-destination message, further comprising the steps of: analyzing the message to determine an alert from the plurality of possible alerts; and generating the alert. A communication system for filtering broadcast or multicast messages, the communication system comprising: a receiving component for receiving a message intended for use in at least some of a plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise a wireless a first determining component for determining a subset of the plurality of transmitters, wherein the subset substantially corresponds to a predetermined geographic standard; a transmitting component for wirelessly transmitting the message to the using the subset a plurality of wireless terminals; and a second determining component for determining whether the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic standard. A communication system for requesting a broadcast or multicast message, as in claim 17, further comprising means for receiving the message if the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic standard. The communication system for filtering broadcast or multicast messages of claim 17, further comprising: a starting component for starting to receive the message at the wireless terminal; and an interrupting component for not corresponding to the wireless terminal The receipt of the message is interrupted in the case of the predetermined geographic standard. A communication system for requesting a broadcast or multicast message, wherein the second determining component is located away from the first determining component. The communication system of claim 17 for filtering broadcast or multicast messages, wherein the first determining means determines that the subset is a transmitter of the plurality of transmitters capable of transmitting to the predetermined geographic standard. A communication system for filtering broadcast or multicast messages of claim 17, further comprising: an analysis component for analyzing the message to determine an alert from the plurality of possible alerts; and generating means for generating the alert . A communication device for filtering broadcast or multicast messages, the communication device comprising: a processor configured to: Receiving a message intended for use by at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals, wherein the plurality of wireless terminals includes a wireless terminal determining a subset of the plurality of transmitters, wherein the subset generally corresponds to a predetermined geographic standard, Determining whether the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic standard, and transmitting the message wirelessly to the plurality of wireless terminals using the subset; and a memory coupled to the processor. The communication device of claim 23 for filtering a broadcast or multicast message, wherein the predetermined geographic standard corresponds to at least one of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional geometric shape, a town boundary, a height, a speed, or a traveling direction. By. A communication device for filtering a broadcast or multicast message of claim 23, wherein the second filter determines whether the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic criteria based on a past location of the wireless terminal. A communication device for filtering a broadcast or multicast message, as claimed in claim 23, wherein the second filter determines whether the wireless terminal corresponds to the predetermined geographic standard based on a predicted future location of the wireless terminal.