`
`(12) United States Patent
`Wood et a].
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,438,221 B2
`*May 7, 2013
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`BROADCAST ALERTING MESSAGE
`AGGREGATOR/GATEWAY SYSTEM AND
`METHOD
`
`Inventors: Mark Andrew Wood, Haselmere (GB);
`Kevin Russell Preston, Newport (GB);
`Douglas Weiser, New Port Richey, FL
`(Us)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: EnvisionIT, LLC, St. Charles, MO (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(63)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`App1.No.: 13/311,44s
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 5, 2011
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2012/0142307 A1
`
`Jun. 7, 2012
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 12/559,405, ?led on
`Sep. 14, 2009, now Pat. No. 8,073,903, which is a
`continuation of application No. 11/057,704, ?led on
`Feb. 14, 2005, now Pat. No. 7,752, 259.
`
`Provisional application No. 60/544,739, ?led on Feb.
`13, 2004.
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`G06F 15/16
`G06F 15/173
`US. Cl.
`USPC .......................... .. 709/203; 709/206; 709/225
`Field of Classi?cation Search ........ .. 709/203i207,
`709/224i225; 455/403*404.1
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`OzllQlzr-t system Comm!“
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,415,771 A 11/1983 Martinez
`4,887,308 A 12/1989 Dutton
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0915598
`9/1999
`1032148
`8/2000
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`EP
`EP
`
`3rd Generation Partnership Project TS 23 .246, Release 6, Sep. 2004.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner * Joshua I00
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Polster, Lieder, Woodruff&
`Lucchesi, LC.
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A message processing system and method providing a broad
`cast message to a plurality of user devices located within a
`geographically de?ned broadcast target area, the system
`including a broadcast service bureau communicatively
`coupled for receiving from a broadcast agent access system
`providing a broadcast request from an originating broadcast
`agent associated one broadcast agent message origination
`systems; the received broadcast request includes a broadcast
`agent identi?cation, the geographically de?ned broadcast tar
`get area, and a broadcast message, the broadcast service
`bureau verifying the broadcast request as a function of the
`broadcast agent identi?cation including an authority of the
`originating broadcast agent to send the broadcast message to
`the broadcast target area; the broadcast service bureau pro
`cessing the veri?ed broadcast request for transmission to one
`or more broadcast message networks providing broadcast
`message alerting service to at least a portion of the broadcast
`target area.
`
`20 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`1/28
`
`DOJ EX. 1001
`
`
`
`US 8,438,221 B2
`Page 2
`
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`7/2003 Hsu et al.
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`10/2003 Roche et al.
`2004/0103158 A1*
`5/2004 Vella et al. .................. .. 709/206
`8/ 2004 Phillips et al.
`2004/0150518 A1
`8/ 2004 Phillips et al.
`2004/0152493 A1
`2004/0192258 A1* 9/2004 Atkin et al. .............. .. 455/412.1
`2004/ 0247086 A1 12/ 2004 Menard et al.
`2005/0013417 A1* 1/2005 Zimmers et al. .............. .. 379/37
`2/2005 Casey et al.
`2005/0030977 A1
`5/ 2005 Fleischman
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`2005/0162267 A1
`7/ 2005 Khandelwal et al.
`11/2005 Weiser
`2005/0261012 A1
`
`EP
`EP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1071296
`1/2001
`1515512
`3/2005
`09098140
`4/1997
`10336127
`12/1998
`441719
`9/1999
`2000165826
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`441720
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`2000244427
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`9605678
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`0189150
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`03071392
`8/2003
`03077063
`9/2003
`2005079421
`9/2005
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, “Value Added Services in GSM”,
`Engineering Instruction, May 4, 2005; http://www.bsnl.co.in/ser
`vice/mobile voice based service.htm.
`British Parliament Debates CellAlert Service for the UK, May 13,
`2003, www.ceasa.us/news.htm.
`Canadian Contract No. 5007441, Jul. 23, 2003; http://72.14.203.104/
`search?q:cache:piSqEswBv74J: strategis.ic. gc .ca/epic/internet/
`inet-td.
`Canadians want Emergency-Location Services, by Dave Ebner, Apr.
`11, 2003, www.ceasa.us/news.htm.
`
`CEASa, Cell Alert System Via Cell Broadcast, Wood, Sep. 2005,
`www.eglobalconf.net/speeches/MarkWood.ppt.
`CEASa; News and Events, “News”, Jan. 14, 2005-Jun. 2005, http://
`www.ceasa-international.org/newshtml.
`CEASa, “Text Message Broadcasts Could Provide Disaster Alerts”
`Jul.
`28,
`2005,
`http://ceasa-international.com/usa/index2.
`php?option:comcontent&task:view&id:1&Ite.
`CEASa International, “Public Warnings Via Cell Broadcast”. Wood
`and Weiser, May 24, 2005, http://www.ceasa-int.org.
`CEASa International, “Welcome to CEASa USA”, Ceasa Admin,
`Jun. 12, 2004, http://ceasa-international.com.
`Cellular Emergency Alert Services Association, Feb. 21, 2003, Cel
`lAlert Services Corporate Structure, www.ceasa.us/news.htm.
`Chinese Of?ce Action (p. 1 with cited reference EP 1032148), Oct.
`23, 2009.
`CSEC “wireless Implementation & Maintenance, Service Noti?ca
`tion & Testing Noti?cation Policies and Procedures”, Apr. 19, 2002,
`http://www.911.state.tx.us/?les/pdfs/resources/callitake.xls.
`Deaf Today, Disability Group Backs Cingular/AWS Merger, Silva,
`Jun. 4, 2004, http://www.deaftoday.com/news/archives/004848.
`htrnl.
`Engadget, “Dutch Testing Geo-Targeted SMS Emergency Broadcast
`System”, Ricker, Oct. 8, 2005, http://engadgetcOm/entry/
`12340005900692252.
`ETSI TS 123.246, Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems
`(UMTS); Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS); Archi
`tecture and functional description (3GPP TS 23.246 version 6.6.0
`Release 6) (Mar. 2005).
`Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference,
`Tampere, Finland, Jun. 13-15, 2005, “What is ‘Cell Broadcasting’
`andWhy do I care, as a HAM?”, Wood, www.rientola.?/oh3ag/garec/
`documents/Cellalertppt.
`International Search Report, date of mailing Jul. 17, 2006 received
`from the International Searching Authority.
`International Telecommunication Union, “Cell Broadcast Broker
`System” M. Wood, Cell Alert Services Corp., Feb. 18, 2003, http://
`www.itu.int/itudoc/itu-t/workshop/ets/isd3 -001 .html.
`Messaging Network, Bercut Limited, “Broadcast for the Masses”,
`Sergey Ermilov, Mar. 2, 2005, http://www.bercut.biZ.
`MobileIN.com Perspective, “Cell Broadcasting Technical Primer”,
`Wood, Sep. 2005, http://www.mobilein.com/Perspectives/Authors/
`CB Primer.htm.
`MobileIN.com Perspective, “History and Importance of Cell Broad
`cast”, Wood, Sep. 2005, http://www.mobilein.com/Perspectives/Au
`thors/CBiHistoryImportance.htm.
`News from Senator John Edwards, North Carolina, Apr. 3, 2003,
`Senate Okays Edwards Emergency Warning Bill, www.ceasa.us/
`news.htm.
`Newscientist.com, “Text Message Broadcasts Could Provide Disas
`ter Alerts”, Jan. 6, 2005, http://www.newscientist.com/article.
`ns?id:dn6852.
`OCG-EMTEL Archives, “Cell Broadcast Public Demonstration in
`USA Successful”, Wood, Sep. 19, 2004, http://list.etsi.fr/scripts/wa.
`exe?A2:ind0409&L:ocg*emtel&T:O&F:&S:&P:693.
`RCR, Cell-Broadcast Service Gets Second Look, Jeffrey Silva, Nov.
`10, 2003, www.ceasa.us/news.htm.
`Recommendation 12 (WTDC-02), The World Telecommunication
`Development Conference (Instabul 2002).
`SMS News, “Text Message Broadcasts Could Provide Disaster
`Alerts”, Jan. 7, 2005, http://www.sendsmsnow.com/newspage.
`php?id:44.
`Stanford Univeristy, EE179 Introduction to Communications, Pro
`fessor Andrea Goldsmith, Winter 2005, http://www.stanford.edu/
`class/ee179.
`TeliaSonera, “Mobile Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS)”,
`MediaLab, Aug. 2004, www.medialab.sonera.?.
`Text Message Warns of “killer ?u” hot spots, Apr. 20, 2003, www.
`ceasa.us/news.htm.
`The Cellular Emergency Alert Services Association Policy State
`ment, Aug. 5, 2002, http://www.cease.us/news.htm.
`
`2/28
`
`DOJ EX. 1001
`
`
`
`US 8,438,221 B2
`Page 3
`
`The Wall Street Journal Online, Local Governments Look to
`Cellphone-Based Alerts, Carl Bialik, Jun. 12, 2003, WWW.ceasa.us/
`news.htrn.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`3/28
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`DOJ EX. 1001
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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 7, 2013
`
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`US 8,438,221 B2
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`May 7, 2013
`
`Sheet 2 01 11
`
`US 8,438,221 B2
`
`E
`a
`
`FIGURE 2
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`
`202
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`May 7, 2013
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`Sheet 3 01 11
`
`US 8,438,221 B2
`
`5
`
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`
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`
`306
`
`/_ 308 f 310
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`
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`
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`Sheet 11 0111
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`US 8,438,221 B2
`
`User A —> Defines:
`1) message
`2) target area
`
`— Msg. Reqt
`
`De?nes: <_ UserB
`1) message
`2) target area
`
`1100
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`DOJ EX. 1001
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`US 8,438,221 B2
`
`1
`BROADCAST ALERTING MESSAGE
`AGGREGATOR/GATEWAY SYSTEM AND
`METHOD
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of US. application Ser.
`No. 12/559,405, ?led Sep. 14, 2009, Which is now US. Pat.
`No. 8,073,903; Which Was a continuation of US. application
`Ser. No. 11/057,704, ?led Feb. 14, 2005, Which is now US.
`Pat. No. 7,752,259 (issued on Jul. 6, 2010); Which Was based
`on Provisional US. Application Ser. No. 60/544,739, ?led
`Feb. 13, 2004, the entire disclosures of Which are incorpo
`rated herein by reference.
`
`FIELD
`
`The present disclosure relates to message broadcast sys
`tems and in particular location-speci?c mes sage broadcasting
`aggregator and gateWays.
`
`20
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`25
`
`2
`When an SMS message is transmitted, the SMS message is
`signaled to an SMS center of the telecommunication service
`provider. The SMS center acknowledges each and every
`requested SMS message individually and attempts to deliver
`the SMS message through an interrogation of the Home
`Location Register (HLR) of the telecommunication service.
`An HLR is a data base Which registers or keeps track of the
`presence of a mobile unit user Within the HLR’s de?ned
`serving netWork. The HLR queries the database and deter
`mines Whether the intended SMS message recipient is cur
`rently attached to the netWork and if so, to Which netWork
`sWitch the user is attached. The HLR is queried using the
`telecommunication signaling netWork.
`If an intended user is located or attached to a sWitch in the
`telecommunication service provider’s netWork, the particular
`netWork sWitch is signaled over the telecommunications sig
`naling netWork to set up the SMS message call. That serving
`netWork sWitch of the mobile carrier initiates a query or
`message attempt to every cell in the location area Where the
`intended user’s mobile unit Was last knoWn to be operating. If
`the intended recipient is located in the particular cell area, the
`mobile unit is paged. As such, potentially thousand of cells
`are queried in order to determine the presence of an intended
`mobile unit. Each queried cell requires paging and calling
`capacity resources for each mobile unit Which is attempted to
`be paged. In some cases, if the mobile unit does not reply, the
`Whole Mobile Service Carrier (MSC) area is paged Which in
`many instances requires the paging of several thousands of
`cells.
`When the mobile unit replies by sending an access burst to
`the cell transceiver currently serving the mobile unit, the cell
`site allocates a stand-alone dedicated control channel (SD
`CCH) to perform SMS call set up With the mobile unit. Next,
`a cipher key is sent by the Home Location Register (HLR)/
`Authentication Center (AUC) to the mobile unit, assuming
`that the mobile unit had previously activated the ciphering of
`the channel. Once the cipher key is successfully received and
`acknoWledged, the SMS message is sent over the control
`channel to the mobile unit. The SMS message transmission
`utiliZes about 5 seconds of control channel time per SMS
`message.
`If, hoWever, the intended recipient is not located in the
`home serving area of the HLR, then signaling message is sent
`to the serving mobile networks Visitor Location Register
`(V LR). The VLR registers and tracks mobile unit users Who
`are outside of their home location. In that case, the VLR is
`queried via the signaling netWork to verify that the user is
`currently attached to the remote sWitch.
`Each SMS message is a narroW-cast message in that each
`message is generated and transmitted via the SMS Center to
`a particular telecommunication user or unit. The SMS mes
`sage is delivered, as discussed above, to the intended recipient
`by capable netWorks Wherever the intended recipient is
`located, independent of geographic area or location.
`As such, SMS messaging for emergency-based messaging
`requires that SMS messages be created and sent to each
`mobile unit even though the particular user phone is not
`located in the particular geographic area in Which the emer
`gency is located. SMS service is not capable of position
`speci?c messaging.
`Additionally, SMS messaging requires considerable call
`processing load on the telecommunication system and infra
`structure considering that the above process is multiplied by
`the demand of thousands or tens of thousands of SMS call set
`up requests at the same time. The potential initiation of broad
`cast SMS volumes Will not only affect netWork resources for
`SMS messaging, but also negatively affect ability of the tele
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`With the events of 9/11, there has been increased concern
`With the ability of present systems for providing public ser
`vice broadcasting of messages and Warnings to the public.
`Existing public service Warning systems are antiquated and
`provide only limited access to the public Who may be in need
`of knoWing of potential emergencies or danger. Additionally,
`existing systems do not provide for location-based noti?ca
`tion or broadcasting.
`As such, there is a need for an improved method and system
`for providing timely information to the public related to
`potential hazards affecting them. One suggested solution is
`the utiliZation of the subscription-based Short Message Ser
`vice (SMS) messaging capability for mass messaging using
`mobile telephones and compatible devices. HoWever, SMS
`systems and technology have signi?cant technical limitations
`and experience With such systems has been disappointing due
`to signi?cant delays in the delivery of SMS messages and
`negative impacts to the netWorks due to congestion.
`Short Message Service (SMS) is only offered or available
`on a limited basis. This is due to the limited technical and
`netWork support for the service and is also due to the service
`being offered by Mobile Service Providers and Wireless net
`Work providers on a subscription basis. As such, use of the
`SMS service capability for emergency broadcasting is very
`limited.
`Additionally, the use of SMS technology for broadcasting
`requires enormous netWork infrastructure utiliZation. A tele
`communication system can suffer from congestion, not only
`in its voice tra?ic channels, but also in its narroW-band data
`channels as are used for the SMS service. To send an SMS
`message, netWork components are utiliZed to provide an SMS
`message call set up for each individual SMS message recipi
`ent. In order to send a single SMS message, all SMS message
`call processing procedures have to be repeated for each and
`every message, one by one, for all intended recipients. A
`60
`single SMS message requires signaling and processor capac
`ity and utiliZation similar to that required to establish a voice
`call. As such, the impact on netWork resources for broadcast
`ing SMS messages is the same as having thousands of phone
`users attempt to initiate a voice call at the same time. Tele
`communication netWorks are not designed or deployed to
`handle such high levels of simultaneous call attempts.
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`communication networks to set up and support voice tra?ic
`during any period of message broadcasting as these resources
`are shared by both services.
`As a further example of the limitation of existing solutions
`to message broadcasting, the Well deployed Global Standard
`for Mobile Communications (GSM) system typically deploys
`in a single GSM cell several transceivers. A typical GSM cell
`con?guration includes betWeen 6 and 12 transceivers. Each
`such transceiver includes 8-timeslots. Each timeslot supports
`a single phone call.
`In such an arrangement, one of the transceivers is selected
`to be the SMS carrier. The SMS carrier transceiver is arranged
`differently, having one timeslot dedicated to broadcast SMS
`messages and paging and another one Which is utiliZed to
`from 8 control channels Which are referred to as Stand-Alone
`Dedicated Control Channels (SDCCH). The SDCCH carry
`out control and call set-up functions and carry the SMS tra?ic
`Which is not normally handled by the tra?ic channels on the
`other timeslots.
`HoWever, in this prior art system, SMS and Wireless
`Access Protocol (WAP) messaging utiliZe capacity on these
`channels making them unavailable for other purposes such as
`voice call set up. Additionally, each of the SDCCH channels
`can only handle a limited number of SMS and/orpaging calls.
`As such, during heavy messaging, the related high volumes of
`messaging tra?ic may have a negative affect on other services
`including the set up of voice calls.
`To compensate for these and other SMS messaging limita
`tions, dynamic channel allocation Was developed. Dynamic
`channel allocation utiliZes an additional tra?ic channel Which
`is converted into another 8 control channels for the duration of
`the peak SMS or paging loads. However, this results in the
`loss of the tra?ic channel for voice communications.
`Further strategies have included the immediate assignment
`to a tra?ic channel. In this system, When a voice call is
`attempted, the voice call is sent to a tra?ic channel directly
`Where signaling Will be performed on the traf?c channel.
`This, hoWever, occupies the tra?ic channel for a longer time
`than Would otherWise be the case. There is a limit on the
`number of traf?c channels that can utiliZe this feature. In most
`cases, only one tra?ic channel is converted thereby only lim
`ited the solution to 8 neW SDCCH channels. The impact of
`call failure due to control channel depends on the tra?ic
`capacity of the cell. In high density cells, When a large quan
`tity of SMS messaging tra?ic is offered, congestion occurs
`due to the each cell having over one hundred tra?ic channels
`Within the cell.
`In operation, the telecommunication service provider
`addresses this limitation by throttling the SMS messaging
`rate so that it is manageable and does not create congestion
`problems. HoWever, such message load management nega
`tively impacts the opportunity for using SMS messaging for
`broadcasting emergency messages to users of those netWorks.
`Throttling often signi?cantly delays the delivery of the SMS
`message, even though it’ s timing delivery in an emergency is
`critical. Furthermore, if a message fails to be delivered, the
`SMS center repeatedly attempts to deliver the message,
`thereby causing further congestion and message backlog.
`Additionally, as discussed SMS messaging is not location
`based and does not send messages to intended recipients
`located Within a de?ned geographic location. Since many
`telecommunication users Will be messages independent of
`their location, many of the generated SMS messages are sent
`to users Who are not in the intended area.
`In the alternative, some next-generation phone systems
`include a basic cell-based broadcasting capability, e.g., GMS,
`CDMA and UMTS. In such systems, the cell broadcasting
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`capability allocates a portion of each timeslot bandWidth
`capacity in each cell as a reserved broadcast timeslot. While
`the cell broadcast capability in included in many neW equip
`ment being deployed, cell broadcasting systems and services
`have not been developed Which effectively utiliZe the tech
`nology.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`The embodiments of the present disclosure provide one or
`more improvements over the prior art.
`In one aspect, a message alert broadcast broker system for
`providing a broadcast message to a plurality of user devices
`located Within a geographically de?ned broadcast target area,
`the system including a broadcast service bureau communica
`tively coupled for receiving from one of a plurality of coupled
`broadcast agent access systems providing a broadcast request
`from an originating broadcast agent associated one broadcast
`agent message origination systems. The received broadcast
`request includes a broadcast agent identi?cation, the geo
`graphically de?ned broadcast target area, and a broadcast
`message, the broadcast service bureau con?gured for verify
`ing the broadcast request as a function of the broadcast agent
`identi?cation including an authority of the originating broad
`cast agent to send the broadcast message to the broadcast
`target area. The broadcast service bureau processing the veri
`?ed broadcast request for transmission to one or more broad
`cast message netWorks providing broadcast message alerting
`service to at least a portion of the broadcast target area.
`In another aspect, a method of public service broadcast
`messaging to a broadcast target area, the method including
`receiving over an input interface a broadcast request includ
`ing a broadcast agent identi?cation, a geographically de?ned
`broadcast target area, and a broadcast message from one of a
`plurality of coupled broadcast agent message origination sys
`tems. The method also includes verifying an authority of the
`broadcast agent identi?cation including an authority of the
`originating broadcast agent to send the broadcast message to
`the broadcast target area. The method further includes trans
`mitting the broadcast message over an output interface to one
`or more coupled broadcast message netWorks providing
`broadcast message alerting service to at least a portion of the
`broadcast target area.
`Further aspects of the present disclosure Will become
`apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It
`should be understood that the detailed description and spe
`ci?c examples, While indicating the preferred embodiment of
`the disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only
`and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present disclosure Will become more fully understood
`from the detailed description and the accompanying draW
`1ngs.
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a public service
`message location broadcast system according to one embodi
`ment.
`FIG. 2 is a second functional block diagram of a public
`service message location broadcast system according to one
`embodiment.
`FIG. 3 is a How chart for an admission control process
`Within the public service message location broadcast system
`service bureau according to one embodiment.
`FIG. 4 is a screen shot of the Broadcast Agent Portal
`Webpage.
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`FIG. 5 is a screen shot of the Broadcast Agent Portal
`Webpage illustrating a Broadcast Agents initial designation
`of a target broadcast area.
`FIG. 6 is a screen shot of the Broadcast Agent Portal
`Webpage illustrating use of a shape tool to re?ne the desig
`nation of a target broadcast area.
`FIG. 7 is a screen shot of the Broadcast Agent Portal
`Webpage illustrating a library of foot print or prede?ned
`target broadcast areas.
`FIG. 8 is a screen shot of the Broadcast Agent Portal
`Webpage illustrating a dialogue box enabling the Broadcast
`Agent to create a message and parameters of the Broadcast
`Request.
`FIG. 9 a screen shot of the Broadcast Agent Portal
`Webpage illustrating a library of target broadcast areas and a
`library of messages.
`FIG. 10 is a screen shot of the Broadcast Agent Portal
`Webpage illustrating a Broadcast Agent Con?rmation Entry
`prompt/WindoW.
`FIG. 11 is a second ?oW chart for an admission control
`process Within the public service message location broadcast
`system service bureau as shoWn in FIG. 3 according to
`another embodiment.
`Corresponding reference characters indicate correspond
`ing parts throughout the several vieWs of the draWings.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The folloWing description is merely exemplary in nature
`and is in no Way intended to limit the disclosure, its applica
`tion, or uses.
`The public service message location broadcasting system
`(PLBS) according to one or more embodiments provide for an
`improved system and method for public service broadcast
`messaging. A public service message location broadcasting
`system (PLBS) operator provides a Broadcast Agent Web
`Portal or Webpage or other similar GUI interface, implemen
`tation and maintenance of the networks’ cell-broadcast mes
`saging components, netWorks and platforms, administration
`and operation of the public service message location broad
`casting system, and interfaces to local telecommunication
`service providers including mobile unit service providers.
`According to one embodiment in the event of a serious
`public emergency, a short text message is sent over the loca
`tion broadcast channel. A mobile unit or Broadcast Agent
`phone that is con?gured to receive location broadcast mes
`sages, Which is in the idle mode and Which is located in the
`prede?ned cell receives the broadcast message and displays
`the message on its screen.
`Location broadcasting is transmitted from the prede?ned
`cell in a doWnlink only mode and therefore does not require
`functionality or netWork resources from the mobile services
`provider or from their any portion of the mobile service
`provider’s mobility management resources, e.g., HLR, VLR,
`etc.
`Public service message location broadcasting system pro
`vides for the simultaneous sending of public service mes
`sages to millions of subscribers With less impact on the sup
`porting netWorks than a single SMS-message. As such,
`minimal to no netWork congestion Will result.
`A public service message location broadcasting system
`(PLBS) receives emergency or public service messaging and
`identi?cation of the target broadcast area from public service
`or government entities. The PLBS provides location broad
`cast message enablement, security and multi-carrier interop
`erability and connectivity to the telecommunication service
`providers offering services Within the target broadcast area.
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`A public service message location broadcasting system
`and method according to one or more embodiments provides
`for the development, transmission, delivery and display of a
`message that is an of?cial govemment-to-citiZen information
`broadcast to all compatible telecommunication receiving
`devices in, or entering, an prede?ned at-risk geographic loca
`tion or area.
`The PLBS system sends any public service or emergency
`information associated With any event, determined by autho
`riZed messaging entities that may affect public safety. These
`include utility outages, missing child alerts, severe Weather
`Warnings, ?ood Warnings, and terrorist threat Warnings. The
`messages are broadcast by public service message location
`broadcasting systems participating With local telecommuni
`cation netWorks.
`Unlike other emergency messaging services that require
`the recipient’s identity, a predetermined ?xed delivery loca
`tion, and usually the payment of a service fee, public service
`message location broadcasting system uses broadcast mes
`saging technology to reach an unlimited number of people in
`real time, With no pre-event subscriber action required.
`Public service message location broadcasting system uses
`cell-broadcast SMS (C-BSMS) technology to provide a mes
`sage or alert to a single cell geographic location, a neighbor
`hood, a city, or an entire nation With minimal impact to the
`hosting telecommunication netWorks.
`Local telecommunications service providers such as
`mobile or cellular telephone service providers provide the
`local infrastructure and deployed technologies to enable the
`service message location broadcasting system to transmit
`public messages in a timely manner to the public that may be
`at risk using a standard and commonplace mobile telephone
`unit.
`The public service message location broadcast system and
`methods described herein provide the functions and steps
`necessary to ensure that the Broadcast Agents are authoriZed
`to send the requested broadcast messages to the de?ned
`broadcast target area. The PLBS con?guration described
`herein provide for internal controls for insuring that the net
`Work and components are secure and that messages are autho
`riZed prior to transmittal. The public service message location
`broadcast system provides the interface to the Broadcast
`Agents to ensure simple and timely de?nition of the broadcast
`target area, the message and the authenti