U.S. patent application number 12/817418 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-07 for transaction management system in a multicast or broadcast wireless communication network.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lava Two, LLC. Invention is credited to James M. Graziano, Daniel B. McKenna.
Application Number | 20100254297 12/817418 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40387610 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100254297 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McKenna; Daniel B. ; et
al. |
October 7, 2010 |
TRANSACTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN A MULTICAST OR BROADCAST WIRELESS
COMMUNICATION NETWORK
Abstract
The reverse path transaction management system enables the
subscriber to receive a multicast on their wireless subscriber
device via the forward path of a multicast channel or via a
unidirectional broadcast channel concurrently with a plurality of
other subscribers on the same multicast channel or broadcast
channel. The subscribers can simultaneously initiate a transaction
to purchase goods and/or services via the reverse path associated
with the shared multicast channel or via a separate cellular
communication connection associated with the broadcast channel.
Typically, goods and/or services are offered to the subscriber as
part of the multicast extant on the shared forward channel.
Inventors: |
McKenna; Daniel B.; (Vail,
CO) ; Graziano; James M.; (Hotchkiss, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATTON BOGGS LLP
1801 CALFORNIA STREET, SUITE 4900
DENVER
CO
80202
US
|
Assignee: |
Lava Two, LLC
Vail
CO
|
Family ID: |
40387610 |
Appl. No.: |
12/817418 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12675349 |
Feb 25, 2010 |
|
|
|
PCT/US07/77425 |
Aug 31, 2007 |
|
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12817418 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/312 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0601 20130101;
H04W 72/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/312 |
International
Class: |
H04W 40/00 20090101
H04W040/00 |
Claims
1. A reverse path transaction management system for providing
transaction services to subscribers who are equipped with wireless
subscriber devices via a wireless communication network that routes
content from a selected program source concurrently to a plurality
of wireless subscriber devices via a multicast on a single
communication channel, which single communication channel includes
at least a forward path from said network to said plurality of
wireless subscriber devices, said reverse path transaction
management system comprising: wireless subscriber device
identification means for registering at least one of said plurality
of wireless subscriber devices that are concurrently served by said
single communication channel using a unique address for said
wireless subscriber device; transaction initiation means,
responsive to one of said at least one wireless subscriber device
transmitting a transaction initiation signal to said network on a
reverse path from said one wireless subscriber device to said
network concurrently with receipt of said content multicast on said
single communication channel, for identifying said one wireless
subscriber device using said unique address for said wireless
subscriber device as well as tag information retrieved from said
multicast that identifies one of goods and services for purchase
displayed in said content multicast; and transaction processing
means for exchanging data with said one wireless subscriber device
via said reverse path using said unique address for said wireless
subscriber device to implement a transaction while said wireless
subscriber device is concurrently receiving said multicast content
via said single communication channel.
2. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said wireless subscriber device identification means
comprises: unique identification means for assigning each of said
at least one wireless subscriber device a unique address for use on
said reverse path.
3. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said transaction initiation means comprises: subscriber
identification means operable concurrently with delivery of said
information on said forward path to said plurality of wireless
subscriber devices for uniquely identifying said one subscriber
device transmitting a transaction initiation signal on said reverse
path.
4. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 3
wherein said transaction initiation means further comprises:
subscriber profile means, responsive to said subscriber
identification means, for retrieving a service profile of said one
subscriber device.
5. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 3
wherein said service profile of said one subscriber device includes
at least one of: subscriber wireless service account information,
subscriber credit card information, and subscriber service
authorization data.
6. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said transaction processing means comprises: transaction
tag means for excerpting advertisement identification data from
said content multicast transmitted via said single communication
channel for identifying a one of a product or service that is the
subject of said transaction.
7. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said transaction processing means comprises: information
exchange means for exchanging messages exclusively with said one
wireless subscriber device for completion of said transaction,
including data relating to at least one of: verification of the
transaction, authorization to complete the transaction, a further
definition of the goods or services desired, payment instructions,
and delivery instructions.
8. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said transaction processing means exchanges data via said
forward and reverse paths exclusively with said one wireless
subscriber device to implement a transaction.
9. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said transaction initiation means is responsive to a
plurality of said wireless subscriber devices transmitting a
transaction initiation signal on said reverse path, for identifying
each of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices.
10. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said transaction processing means exchanges data via said
forward and reverse paths via a plurality of communication
sessions, each of which is exclusive to a corresponding one of said
plurality of wireless subscriber devices to implement a
transaction.
11. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said wireless subscriber device identification means
comprises: unique identification means for assigning each of said
plurality of wireless subscriber devices transmitting a transaction
initiation signal on said reverse path a unique address for use on
said reverse path.
12. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said transaction initiation means comprises: subscriber
identification means, operable concurrently with delivery of said
information on said forward path to said plurality of wireless
subscriber devices, for uniquely identifying each of said plurality
of wireless subscriber devices transmitting a transaction
initiation signal on said reverse path.
13. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 12
wherein said transaction initiation means further comprises:
subscriber profile means, responsive to said subscriber
identification means, for retrieving a service profile of each of
said plurality of wireless subscriber devices transmitting a
transaction initiation signal on said reverse path.
14. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 12
wherein said service profile includes at least one of: subscriber
wireless service account information, subscriber credit card
information, and subscriber service authorization data.
15. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said transaction processing means comprises: transaction
tag means for excerpting advertisement identification data from
said information transmitted via said forward channel for
identifying a one of a product or service that is the subject of
said transaction.
16. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said transaction processing means comprises: information
exchange means for exchanging messages exclusively with said one
wireless subscriber device for completion of said transaction,
including data relating to at least one of: verification of the
transaction, authorization to complete the transaction, a further
definition of the goods or services desired, payment instructions,
and delivery instructions.
17. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said wireless communication network comprises: multicast
wireless communication network means for concurrently propagating
information from a multi-media content source to a plurality of
wireless subscriber devices via a forward path of a multicast
channel shared by said plurality of wireless subscriber devices and
for receiving information from said plurality of wireless
subscriber devices over a reverse path of said multicast
channel.
18. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 17
wherein said transaction processing means exchanges data via said
forward and reverse paths of said multicast channel with said one
wireless subscriber device to implement a transaction.
19. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said wireless communication network comprises: broadcast
wireless network means for concurrently propagating multi-media
content from a multi-media content source to a plurality of
wireless subscriber devices via a forward path of a unidirectional
broadcast channel shared by said plurality of wireless subscriber
devices; and multicast wireless communication network means for
receiving information from said plurality of wireless subscriber
devices over a reverse path of a multicast channel of said
multicast wireless communication network means concurrently with
the delivery of said multi-media content to said plurality of
wireless subscriber devices.
20. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 19
wherein said transaction processing means exchanges data via said
forward and reverse paths of said multicast channel with said one
wireless subscriber device to implement a transaction.
21. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 1
wherein said wireless communication network comprises: broadcast
wireless network means for concurrently propagating multi-media
content from a multi-media content source to a plurality of
wireless subscriber devices via a forward path of a unidirectional
broadcast channel shared by said plurality of wireless subscriber
devices; and cellular communication network means for receiving
information from said plurality of wireless subscriber devices over
a channel of said cellular communication network means concurrently
with the delivery of said multi-media content to said plurality of
wireless subscriber devices.
22. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 21
wherein said transaction processing means exchanges data via said
forward and reverse paths of said channel of said cellular
communication network with said one wireless subscriber device to
implement a transaction.
23. A reverse path transaction management method for providing
transaction services to subscribers who are equipped with wireless
subscriber devices via a wireless communication network that routes
content from a selected program source concurrently to a plurality
of wireless subscriber devices via a multicast on a single
communication channel, which single communication channel includes
at least a forward path from said network to said plurality of
wireless subscriber devices, said reverse path transaction
management system comprising: registering at least one of said
plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are concurrently
served by said single communication channel using a unique address
for said wireless subscriber device; identifying, in response to
one of said at least one wireless subscriber device transmitting a
transaction initiation signal on a reverse path, from said one
wireless subscriber device to said network concurrently with
receipt of said content multicast on said single communication
channel, said one wireless subscriber device using said unique
address for said wireless subscriber device as well as tag
information retrieved from said multicast that identifies one of
goods and services for purchase displayed in said content
multicast; and exchanging data via said reverse path using said
unique address for said wireless subscriber device to implement a
transaction while said wireless subscriber device is concurrently
receiving said multicast content via said single communication
channel.
24. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of identifying comprises: assigning each of said
at least one wireless subscriber device a unique address for use on
said reverse path.
25. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging comprises: uniquely identifying,
concurrently with delivery of said information on said forward path
to said plurality of wireless subscriber devices, said one
subscriber device transmitting a transaction initiation signal on
said reverse path.
26. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 25
wherein said step of exchanging further comprises: retrieving, in
response to said subscriber identification means, a service profile
of said one subscriber device.
27. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 25
wherein said service profile of said one subscriber device includes
at least one of: subscriber wireless service account information,
subscriber credit card information, and subscriber service
authorization data.
28. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging comprises: excerpting advertisement
identification data from said content multicast transmitted via
said single communication channel for identifying a one of a
product or service that is the subject of said transaction.
29. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging comprises: exchanging messages
exclusively with said one wireless subscriber device for completion
of said transaction, including data relating to at least one of:
verification of the transaction, authorization to complete the
transaction, a further definition of the goods or services desired,
payment instructions, and delivery instructions.
30. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging exchanges data via said forward and
reverse paths exclusively with said one wireless subscriber device
to implement a transaction.
31. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of identifying is responsive to a plurality of
said wireless subscriber devices transmitting a transaction
initiation signal on said reverse path for identifying each of said
plurality of wireless subscriber devices.
32. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging exchanges data via said forward and
reverse paths via a plurality of communication sessions, each of
which is exclusive to a corresponding one of said plurality of
wireless subscriber devices to implement a transaction.
33. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of identifying comprises: assigning each of said
plurality of wireless subscriber devices, transmitting a
transaction initiation signal on said reverse path, a unique
address for use on said reverse path.
34. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging comprises: uniquely identifying,
concurrently with delivery of said information on said forward path
to said plurality of wireless subscriber devices, each of said
plurality of wireless subscriber devices transmitting a transaction
initiation signal on said reverse path.
35. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 34
wherein said step of exchanging further comprises: retrieving, in
response to said subscriber identification means, a service profile
of each of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices
transmitting a transaction initiation signal on said reverse
path.
36. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 34
wherein said service profile includes at least one of: subscriber
wireless service account information, subscriber credit card
information, and subscriber service authorization data.
37. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging comprises: excerpting advertisement
identification data from said information transmitted via said
forward channel for identifying a one of a product or service that
is the subject of said transaction.
38. The reverse path transaction management method of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging comprises: exchanging messages
exclusively with said one wireless subscriber device for completion
of said transaction, including data relating to at least one of:
verification of the transaction, authorization to complete the
transaction, a further definition of the goods or services desired,
payment instructions, and delivery instructions.
39. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging comprises: concurrently propagating
information from a multi-media content source to a plurality of
wireless subscriber devices via a forward path of a multicast
channel shared by said plurality of wireless subscriber devices,
and for receiving information from said plurality of wireless
subscriber devices over a reverse path of said multicast
channel.
40. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 23
wherein said step of exchanging exchanges data via said forward and
reverse paths of said multicast channel with said one wireless
subscriber device to implement a transaction.
41. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 23
wherein said routing of information by said wireless communication
network comprises: concurrently propagating multi-media content
from a multi-media content source via a broadcast wireless network
to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a forward path of
a unidirectional broadcast channel shared by said plurality of
wireless subscriber devices; and receiving information from said
plurality of wireless subscriber devices over a reverse path of a
multicast channel of a multicast wireless communication network
concurrently with the delivery of said multi-media content to said
plurality of wireless subscriber devices.
42. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 41
wherein said step of exchanging exchanges data via said forward and
reverse paths of said multicast channel with said one wireless
subscriber device to implement a transaction.
43. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 23
wherein said routing of information by said wireless communication
network comprises: concurrently propagating multi-media content
from a multi-media content source via a broadcast wireless network
to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a forward path of
a unidirectional broadcast channel shared by said plurality of
wireless subscriber devices; and receiving information from said
plurality of wireless subscriber devices over a channel of a
cellular communication network concurrently with the delivery of
said multi-media content to said plurality of wireless subscriber
devices.
44. The reverse path transaction management system of claim 43
wherein said step of exchanging exchanges data via said forward and
reverse paths of said channel of said cellular communication
network with said one wireless subscriber device to implement a
transaction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/675,349 filed Feb. 25, 2010, which is a
national stage of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US07/077425 filed
Aug. 31, 2007, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the same
extent as though fully disclosed herein. This application also is
related to applications titled "Forward Path Multi-Media Management
System With End User Feedback To Central Content Sources" filed
Feb. 25, 2010 under U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/675,356;
"Forward Path Multi-Media Management System With End User Feedback
To Distributed Content Sources" filed Feb. 25, 2010 under U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/675,358; "Communication Network For
A Multi-Media Management System With End User Feedback" filed Feb.
25, 2010 under U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/675,363; "Gaming
System With End User Feedback For A Communication Network Having A
Multi-Media Management" filed Feb. 25, 2010 under U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/675,366; "Gaming Device For Multi-Player
Games" filed Feb. 25, 2010 under U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/675,369; and "Virtual Aggregation Processor For Incorporating
Reverse Path Feedback Into Content Delivered On A Forward Path",
filed Feb. 25, 2010 under U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/675,376.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to multicast wireless communication
networks that provide subscribers with access to a plurality of
multi-media services by sharing a common forward path of a
multicast channel in the cellular communication network among a
plurality of wireless subscriber devices, as well as broadcast
wireless communication networks that provide subscribers with
access to a plurality of multi-media services via a broadcast
channel that is separate from the cellular communication
network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is a problem in wireless communication networks that the
network topology is exclusively point-to-point, or one-to-one, in
nature. This paradigm represents the historical view of wireless
communications as a non-wired equivalent of traditional wire-line
telephone communication networks which serve to interconnect a
calling party with a called party. An additional problem in
wireless communication networks is that the need to concurrently
serve many voice subscribers with the limited bandwidth available
in wireless communication networks has prevented the provision of
wide bandwidth communication services, such as broadband data, to
these subscribers.
[0004] The third generation (3G) wireless communication systems
represent a step toward solving the above-noted problems. The third
generation wireless communication systems support the provision of
advanced packet data services. When the wireless subscriber device
is away from its home wireless network (roaming), a special data
communications link (Wireless IP tunnel) is established between the
visited wireless network and the home wireless network. In this
case, IP packets directed to the wireless subscriber device's IP
address of the home wireless network are routed to the home
wireless network, and a Wireless IP tunnel redirects the IP packets
to the visited wireless network where the roaming wireless
subscriber device is located and being served.
[0005] However, even with advances in bandwidth utilization and the
provision of packet data services, wireless communication networks
still operate on a point-to-point paradigm, with the networks being
unable to concurrently communicate data to a plurality of
subscribers, which is the fundamental concept of broadcast
communications, especially in the case of a dynamically changing
audience for the broadcasts. As a result, wireless data networks
are inherently inefficient in terms of spectrum and asset
utilization when delivering broadcast-like information to
subscribers.
[0006] An alternative to the point-to-point paradigm is the
multicast, which constitutes multi-media content that is
concurrently delivered in a single transmission to a plurality of
subscribers who are equipped with wireless subscriber devices. A
feature of multicast is that multiple subscribers share a single
air interface channel, which extends from the radio transmitter to
their wireless subscriber device and comprises the forward path
that carries the multicast, to concurrently receive the multi-media
content on the same channel.
[0007] The present multicast environment presents a problem with
respect to the provision of transaction management since a
plurality of subscribers is concurrently sharing the same forward
path to receive the multi-media content. There is no ability for a
subscriber to initiate and effect a transaction without the
subscriber originating a separate point-to-point communication
connection from the subscriber wireless device to the point-of-sale
or point-of-information server, making the process burdensome to
the subscriber and disjunct from the advertising or other stimulus
that caused the subscriber to initiate this transaction.
[0008] New wireless multi-media content delivery architectures,
such as MediaFLO ("Media ForwardLinkOnly") and DVB-H (Digital Video
Broadcast-Handheld), solve some of the present limitations of
multi-media content delivery by using a broadcast architecture to
produce a pseudo-multicast delivery and concurrently disseminate
the multi-media content to a plurality of wireless subscriber
devices. In these architectures (also termed "multicast" herein), a
unidirectional multi-media wireless broadcast network transmits
multi-media content to selected authorized wireless subscriber
devices in a time concurrent fashion, independent of the cellular
communication network that is operational in the same coverage
area. The wireless subscriber devices used in these broadcast
architectures contain a multi-media content broadcast receiver
which does not have the capability to communicate in a "reverse
path" direction over the broadcast network. That is, the MediaFLO
and DVB-H multi-media content broadcast receivers are incapable of
transmitting anything, much less processing a "transaction". In the
case of MediaFLO, for example, the wireless subscriber device is
often a dual mode device which contains both a forward-path-only
MediaFLO broadcast receiver for receiving the broadcasted
multi-media content (television) as well as a conventional CDMA or
GSM cell phone for cellular telephone calls. However, there is no
"connectivity" between these essentially two disparate devices
housed within a single wireless subscriber device, and the two
networks with which they interact are operationally independent.
The MediaFLO broadcast receiver cannot communicate with the
imbedded cell phone, and the imbedded cell phone cannot communicate
with the MediaFLO device during the receipt of the multi-media
content.
[0009] The MediaFLO and DVB-H multi-media wireless delivery
architectures, therefore, are static in their user interface, since
there is no interactivity between delivered multi-media content and
the subscriber. The processing of a transaction in this environment
requires the initiation of a separate point-to-point communication
connection from the subscriber wireless device to a point-of-sale
or point-of-information server to initiate and effect a
transaction, making the process burdensome to the subscriber and
disjunct from the advertising or other stimulus that caused the
subscriber to initiate this transaction, since there is no
coordination between the two activities.
[0010] Thus, the state of the art does not enable a Transaction
Communication Capability (on the reverse path of the cellular
communication network or via some other means) that links received
multi-media content with an associated subscriber initiated
transaction.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The above-described problems are solved and a technical
advance achieved by the transaction management system in a
multicast wireless communication network (termed "reverse path
transaction management system" herein) that operates with existing
multicast wireless communication networks and existing broadcast
wireless communication networks to manage subscriber transactions
to purchase goods and/or services and to move information.
[0012] In a multicast wireless communication network, the extent of
the forward path multicast is one or more cells and/or cell
sectors, which are grouped to cover a predetermined geographic
area, demographic population, or subscriber interest group.
Alternatively, in a broadcast wireless communication network, the
multi-media content delivery typically is delivered by a single
transmitter which serves a very large area, such as a large city.
The multicast or broadcast transmits information to subscribers who
populate the target audience; and the content of these
transmissions can be multi-media in nature, comprising a
combination of various forms of media: audio, video, graphics,
text, data, and the like.
[0013] The technological advance provided by the reverse path
transaction management system enables the subscriber to effect a
transaction which is driven or influenced from/by multi-media
content delivered to the wireless subscriber device over the
forward path. This transaction is enabled by a reverse path
communication link via the cellular communication network. For
example, cell phones are bi-directional devices, but a pure
MediaFLO or DVB-H device is only a unidirectional broadcast
receiver. However, many MediaFLO wireless subscriber devices also
have a bi-directional cell phone; but the two devices, cell phone
and MediaFLO receiver, are not "interconnected" for reverse path
transaction communication purposes. The reverse path physical and
logical inter-connection with the forward path multi-media content
delivery (linking the subscriber initiated transaction to the
forward path information) and associated process management is
described herein.
[0014] The reverse path transaction management system enables the
subscriber to receive the multicast or MediaFLO/DVB-H broadcast on
their wireless subscriber device via the forward path of a
multicast/broadcast channel, concurrently with a plurality of other
subscribers on the same multicast/broadcast channel, and
simultaneously initiate a unique transaction to purchase goods
and/or services or to move information via the reverse path
associated with the shared multicast channel or over a reverse path
on an associated cellular network, respectively. Typically, goods
and/or services are offered to the subscriber as part of the
multicast/broadcast extant on the shared forward channel, and the
individual subscribers receiving the shared multicast/broadcast can
elect to purchase the offered goods and/or services by activating a
response message that is transmitted over the reverse path,
indicating the subscriber's desire to initiate a transaction. The
subscriber is uniquely identified as part of the registration
process, and can communicate with the Reverse Path Transaction
Management System via the reverse path of the multicast channel in
a secure, subscriber-specific manner. This enables the subscriber
to signal the Reverse Path Transaction Management System of their
desire to initiate a transaction by signaling on the reverse path
of the multicast channel, yet not have to disconnect from the
multicast channel and originate a separate point-to-point
communication connection from the wireless subscriber device to the
point-of-sale server to initiate and effect a transaction, as is
required in existing systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates, in block diagram form, the overall
architecture of a typical cellular communication network that is
equipped with the present reverse path transaction management
system;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates, in flow diagram form, the operation of
the reverse path transaction management system in a cellular
architecture;
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates, in block diagram form, the overall
architecture of a typical broadcast network and its associated
cellular communication network that is equipped with the present
reverse path transaction management system; and
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates, in flow diagram form, the operation of
the reverse path transaction management system in a combined
broadcast and cellular communication network architecture.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Wireless Communication Network Philosophy
[0019] Wireless communication networks 110, as shown in block
diagram form in FIG. 1, provide the service of connecting wireless
subscriber devices 101-104 to both land-based customers 121-123 who
are served by the common carrier Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN) 108 (via Local Exchange Carrier System 125) as well as other
wireless telecommunication customers. In such a network, all of the
wireless subscriber device incoming and outgoing calls are routed
through an associated Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 106, or via
Data Switch or Router 140, which is connected to a plurality of
Radio Network Subsystems (RNS) 131, 132 which communicate with
wireless subscriber devices 101-104 via Base Devices 141, 142 and
located in the area covered by their associated cell sites 111,
112. The Mobile Switching Center 106 uses a Home Location Register
(HLR) and a Visited Location Register (VLR) to manage subscriber
registration, subscriber authentication, and the provision of
wireless services (not shown on FIG. 1). The radio frequency
control channels 141, 142 that are available in this system are
used to set up the communication connections between the wireless
subscriber devices 101-104 and their associated Base Devices 141,
142. The control messages locate and identify the wireless
subscriber device, determine the dialed number or the data
connection type, and identify an available voice/data communication
channel 151, 152 consisting of a pair of radio frequencies and
orthogonal coding if CDMA for the radio frequency communication
connection.
Philosophy of the Multicast Wireless Communication System
[0020] An exemplary narrowcast technology is described in detail in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,498 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,115, for example,
and can be used to implement the narrowcast communications between
wireless subscriber devices and the radio frequency
transmitter-receiver pairs. This technology, as well as the nature
of the data transferred in the narrowcast, be it voice, video,
telemetry, computer data, and the like, is not intended to be
limited to the reverse path transaction management system 114 which
is described herein, since a novel system concept is disclosed, not
a specific technologically limited implementation of an existing
system concept. Therefore, the term "wireless" as it is used herein
denotes a communication system which operates on the basis of
dividing space into a plurality of volumetric sections or cells
111, 112, and managing communications between wireless subscriber
devices 101-104 located in the cells 111, 112 and the associated
radio frequency transmitter-receiver pairs located at the cell site
141, 142 for each of these cells 111, 112. The modulation methods
and access methods are not limiting factors herein and could be
OFDM or QPSK modulated with CDMA access, or they could be QAM
modulated with TDMA access. The term "multicast channel" represents
a communication channel 151, 152 that carries multi-media content
(multicast) simultaneously to a plurality of wireless subscriber
devices 101-104 via a forward path and can receive signals from
this plurality of wireless subscriber devices 101-104 via a reverse
path of the multicast communication channel 151, 152.
[0021] The basic functionality of the multicast wireless
communication network 100 comprises an information distribution
management functionality that concurrently propagates information
to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices 101-104, using push,
pull, and combinations of push/pull data propagation modes. The
need for information dissemination is identified: in response to
external events, in response to predetermined temporal/spatial
stimuli, as a function of subscriber inquiries or requests, and the
like. The multicast wireless communication network 100, in response
to an identified information dissemination event, identifies a
plurality of cells 111, 112 in the wireless communication network
100 as well as available communication channels 151, 152 in each of
these cells 111, 112 to carry the information that is to be
transmitted to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices 101-104
extant in the locales served by the selected cells 111, 112. The
communication channels 151, 152 can be dedicated to multicast
services or can be selected from the pool of available
communication channels. The subscribers access the multicasts by
selecting the communication channel 151, 152 on their wireless
subscriber device 101-104 that carries the multicast. The
subscriber can be alerted to the presence of the multicast in many
ways or can activate their wireless subscriber device 101-104 to
retrieve the multicast absent any alert being transmitted to the
wireless subscriber device 101-104. The multicast retrieved by the
subscriber is not subscriber-unique, in that the multicast is
transmitted to many subscribers, with a plurality of subscribers
101, 102 concurrently accessing the multicast on the same
communication channel 151 being a typical mode of operation.
Content Delivery
[0022] The content of the multicasts can vary widely and include,
but are not limited to: free information, subscription-based
information, toll-based information, and the like, as noted above.
The content can be locally generated or remotely generated, with
the propagation of the information to the various cell sites 111,
112 being implemented in a number of ways. FIG. 1 illustrates, in
block diagram form, the overall architecture of a typical multicast
wireless communication network 100. In particular, there is a
Multicast Manager 113 that functions to receive the program source
information from multiple sources and forward this information to
selected cell sites 111, 112 for transmission to the subscribers
served by these cell sites. The Multicast Manager 113 defines the
geographic area, demographic population, or subscriber interest
group, which are the metrics used to transmit information to
subscribers who populate the target audience for multicast
transmissions. The Multicast Manager 113 also can include the
selection of frequencies and PN codes (if CDMA) that are used by
each cell site to transmit the multicasts to subscribers. The basic
content delivery network is independent of the existing radio
frequency wireless communication network 100, but it is
cooperatively operative with the wireless communication network
100. Thus, it is expected that part of the functionality described
herein for the content delivery network can be part of, or
integrated with, the wireless communication network 100, as a
matter of expediency.
[0023] As shown in block diagram form in FIG. 1, the sources of
data for the multicast wireless communication network 100 can be
varied, and a few typical content sources are shown here to
illustrate the concepts of the multicast wireless communication
network 100. In particular, the multicast wireless communication
network 100 is connected to a plurality of content sources. The
sources can be remotely located program sources 124, 120, 122
connected via a satellite uplink 126, IP Network 107, or the Public
Switched Telephone Network 108, respectively. Alternatively, the
program source can be a local program source 127. The various
program sources provide information of various types including, but
not limited to: news, advertisements, traffic, weather, travel
information, and the like.
[0024] The multicast wireless communication network 100 also
includes a local mass storage memory 119 (database) for storing
control instructions for use by processor 118, as well as program
material received from the various program sources identified
above. The multicast wireless communication network 100 is
controlled by a processor complex that manages the definition of
the cells to which a particular multicast is transmitted and
integrates information received from the various program sources
into multicasts that are transmitted over selected traffic channels
of the forward path channel within one or more cells. The
multicasts generated by the Multicast Manager 113 are transmitted
to the various Radio Network Subsystems 131, 132 either directly or
via the associated Mobile Switching Center 106. The Multicast
Manager 113 functions to assemble program streams, as described
below, and transmit the program streams containing the multicasts
via a selected communication medium, such as the Public Switched
Telephone Network 108, or some other communication medium, such as
an IP network.
Multicast Coverage Areas
[0025] The formation of a demographic group within a targeted
geographic region is the underlying foundation for multicasting.
Within this context, the delivery of multicasts necessitates the
creation of non-unique addressing methods, particularly in the
Forward Path (base-to-wireless subscriber device). Unique
addressing in the reverse path (wireless subscriber device-to-base)
enables specialized services, including elements such as billing
for: e-commerce, pay-per-event multicasts, and so on. This
leverages the infrastructure assets, bandwidth, and channel
capacity across a large user group, thereby driving the delivery
cost to very low levels on a per subscriber basis.
Dynamic Configuration of Multicast Dynamic Coverage Areas
[0026] The multicast wireless communication network 100 can
dynamically configure a multicast coverage area, such as the
multicast coverage areas described above, as the multicast
generation apparatus registers a plurality of subscribers by using
the self-registration process for the wireless subscriber devices
101-104. The multicast generation apparatus associates each
registered wireless subscriber device 101-104 with a subscriber
profile. The multicast generation apparatus can use a common MIN or
other common addressing scheme associated with this multicast
coverage group, which common MIN or other common addressing scheme
is input into the wireless subscriber devices 101-104 of these
group members or, alternatively, uniquely identifying the
individual members of this multicast coverage group by their
wireless subscriber devices 101-104. Once the multicast coverage
group is defined, a plurality of cells 111, 112 are selected to
form a multicast coverage area group where the spatial extent of a
multicast coverage area group can be dynamically established by the
presence of wireless subscriber devices 101-104 in the coverage
area of various ones of the cells 111, 112. While not shown, the
coverage region for a given multicast could also be formed via
concatenated or joined cell sectors (versus an un-sectored cell
which would generally have a circular pattern coverage). The
multicast coverage areas can be spatially and content hierarchical,
overlapping in coverage or not, in addition to optionally
containing non-contiguous cells, as described above.
[0027] Once all of the multicast coverage areas are defined by
associating cells 111, 112 for each multicast coverage area group,
the Multicast Manager 113 uses this data in managing the delivery
of multicasts by transmitting program content, tagged to identify
the associated multicast coverage area group(s) to the multicast
wireless communication network 100 for transmission to the cells
111, 112 that comprise each of the multicast coverage area groups
that have been defined as described above. A multicast can be
simultaneously routed to multiple multicast coverage area groups,
and subscribers can receive multicasts from multiple multicast
coverage area groups, which may not be hierarchically at the same
level. Finally, the multicasts are transmitted to the wireless
subscriber devices 101-104 that are members of the associated
multicast coverage areas.
Multicast Subscriber Registration Management
[0028] The multicast process can be conceptually divided into
multicast Acquisition, where the multicast control information is
delivered to the wireless subscriber device, and multicast
Maintenance, where the particular program content contained in the
multicast is selected by the subscriber and received on a
continuing basis. Multicast control information flows from the
Multicast Manager 113 (as described herein) to the Mobile Switching
Center 106. The Mobile Switching Center 106 analyzes this multicast
control information and, in cooperation with the Radio Network
Subsystems 131, 132 served by the Mobile Switching Center 106,
selects one or more out-of-band signaling paths to convey multicast
acquisition information on the forward path (base-to-mobile) using
means well understood in the art. As in traditional telephony, the
multicasting network uses standard forward path signaling methods
with a logical partition, thereby separating the multicast control
information from the control information used for other network
services. The multicast network overlay forwards multicast control
information to the wireless subscriber device 101-104 for two
functions: multicast acquisition and multicast maintenance. The
information conveyed includes: multicast region cell/sector code
word assignment, cell/sector timing information, available
multicasts on a cell/sector basis, and so on. The information
conveyed is wholly self-sufficient to enable the wireless
subscriber device 101-104 to access and maintain a multicast call
without follow-on assistance from the network's out-of-band
signaling channels. Thus, the acquisition and maintenance of a
multicast involves both out-of-band signaling during the
acquisition phase and in-band signaling during the maintenance
phase of a multicast.
Reverse Path Transaction Management System
[0029] There are two general architectural approaches to wirelessly
deliver multi-media content: the broadcast approach adopted by
MediaFLO and DVB-H where there is no inherent reverse path to
enable a transaction; and the second architectural approach where a
cellular network is configured as described above and which has an
inherent reverse path capability. In either case, the enablement of
"transaction" capability on the reverse path is novel for either
architecture, albeit technologically different for the respective
two multi-media content delivery architectures.
Reverse Path Transaction Management System in a Cellular
Architecture
[0030] The reverse path transaction management system 114 enables
the subscriber to receive the multicast on their wireless
subscriber device 101 via the multicast channel communication
connection 151 that includes a forward path, concurrently with a
plurality of other subscribers 102 on the same forward path, and
simultaneously initiate a transaction to purchase goods and/or
services via the reverse path of the multicast channel associated
with the shared forward path.
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates in flow diagram form the operation of the
reverse path transaction management system 114. At step 201, the
wireless subscriber device 101 is connected to a multicast channel
151 from the serving cell site 111, receiving a multicast
transmission on the forward path of the multicast channel 151 along
with other wireless subscriber devices 102. At step 202, the
subscriber activates wireless subscriber device 101 to initiate a
transaction. This decision can be in response to multi-media
content transmitted to the wireless subscriber device 101 on the
forward path of the multicast channel 151, where a product or
service is advertised as part of the multi-media content. If the
subscriber wishes to purchase the advertised product or service,
this can be done without having the subscriber disconnect or
interrupt the multi-media content that is being delivered on the
forward channel of the multicast channel 151. The subscriber is one
of a plurality of subscribers whose wireless subscriber devices
101, 102 are concurrently connected to the same multicast channel
151, so all the subscribers are receiving the same multi-media
content. However, the subscriber is uniquely identified as part of
the above-described registration process, and can communicate with
the Reverse Path Transaction Management System 114 via the reverse
path of the multicast channel 151 in a secure, subscriber-specific
manner. This enables the subscriber to signal the Reverse Path
Transaction Management System 114 of their desire to initiate a
transaction by signaling on the reverse path of the multicast
channel 151, yet not have to disconnect from the multicast channel
151 and originate a separate point-to-point communication
connection from the wireless subscriber device 101 to the
point-of-sale server 150 to initiate and effect a transaction, as
is required in existing systems.
[0032] Thus, in response to the subscriber activating wireless
subscriber device 101 to initiate a transaction at step 202, the
wireless subscriber device 101 transmits a wireless subscriber
device identification and transaction initiation message to Serving
Mobile Switching Center 106 at step 203 and, at step 204, the
Reverse Path Transaction Management System 114, in response to
received wireless subscriber device identification and transaction
initiation message forwarded by the Serving Mobile Switching Center
106, retrieves subscriber profile data from VLR/HLR of the Serving
Mobile Switching Center 106 and initiates a dialog session with
wireless subscriber device 101. The data received from the wireless
subscriber device 101 may include a tag from the multi-media
content to specify which advertised product or service was
displayed when the subscriber made their selection, thereby to
ensure the proper linking of the transaction to the product or
service desired by the subscriber. The subscriber data can include
credit card data to enable the transaction to be billed to the
subscriber's credit card, or the transaction can be billed to the
subscriber's wireless service provider account using their
telephone number, or to a third party payment service.
[0033] At step 205, the Reverse Path Transaction Management System
114 transmits transaction related data exclusively to wireless
subscriber device 101 via a signaling channel on the multicast
channel. The signaling channel could be logical or physical in its
extent. The subscriber uses the wireless subscriber device 101 at
step 206 to complete a transaction via an exchange of messages with
the Reverse Path Transaction Management System 114 via the reverse
path and an auxiliary channel on the shared multicast channel 151.
These information exchanges can include verification of the
transaction, authorization to complete the transaction, a further
definition of the goods or services desired, delivery instructions,
and the like. For example, a pizza advertisement can be presented
in the program content, and the subscriber can initiate a pizza
delivery. The above-noted interactions can specify the number of
pizzas desired and the toppings on each of the pizzas, as well as
the delivery address. This enables the subscriber to efficiently
order without interrupting the program content. The further
information requested from the subscriber can be displayed on a
"ticker" line on the screen of the display of the wireless
subscriber device 101, and the subscriber can input data via the
keypad of the wireless subscriber device 101.
[0034] Upon completion of a transaction, the Reverse Path
Transaction Management System 114 at step 207 releases the
signaling channel of the shared multicast channel 151, and the
wireless subscriber device 101 discontinues transmission on the
reverse path since the transaction is completed.
Reverse Path Transaction Management System in a Broadcast
Architecture
[0035] New multi-media wireless delivery architectures such as
MediaFLO (Qualcomm trademark--"Media ForwardLinkOnly") and DVB-H
(Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld) use a broadcast architecture to
distribute multi-media content to subscribers in a predefined
service area. FIG. 3 illustrates, in block diagram form, the
overall architecture of a typical broadcast network 300 and its
associated cellular communication network 110 that is equipped with
the present reverse path transaction management system 114. The
cellular communication network 110 has an architecture and
operation as that described with respect to FIG. 1, so like
elements in FIGS. 1 and 3 are labeled identically.
[0036] These broadcast architectures rely on the presence and use
of an associated cellular communication network 110 to provide the
subscriber authentication and authorization functions to enable a
subscriber to access the multi-media content being transmitted over
the broadcast network 300. In these architectures, a unidirectional
multi-media broadcast network 300 transmits multi-media content 303
to wireless subscriber devices 101, 102 independent of the cellular
communication network 110 that is operational in the same coverage
area. The wireless subscriber devices 101, 102 used in these
broadcast architectures contain a multi-media content broadcast
receiver which does not have the capability to communicate in a
"reverse path" direction over the broadcast network 300. That is,
the MediaFLO and DVB-H multi-media content broadcast receivers are
incapable of transmitting anything, much less processing a
"transaction". In the case of MediaFLO, for example, the wireless
subscriber device 101, 102 is often a dual mode device which
contains both a forward-path only MediaFLO broadcast receiver for
receiving the broadcasted multi-media content (television) 303, as
well as a conventional CDMA or GSM cell phone for cellular
telephone calls. However, there is no "connectivity" between these
two essentially disparate devices housed within a single wireless
subscriber device, and the two networks with which they interact
are operationally independent. The MediaFLO broadcast receiver
cannot communicate with the imbedded cell phone, and the imbedded
cell phone cannot communicate with the MediaFLO device during the
receipt of the multi-media content.
[0037] In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, the multi-media content
is delivered to a multi-mode subscriber device 101, 102 via radio
frequency transmissions 303, which are broadcast in a predefined
coverage area via broadcast transmitters 302. The multi-media
content typically is encoded or encrypted to prevent
non-subscribers from receiving the multi-media content. The
subscriber, therefore, initiates receipt of the broadcast encoded
multi-media content 303 by activating the multi-mode subscriber
device 101, 102 to access the carrier's operations center 304. This
communication typically is effected via the cellular telephone in
the multi-mode subscriber device 101, 102, which is used to
transmit a registration request to the carrier's operations center
304. The request is processed by the carrier to identify and
authenticate the subscriber multi-mode device, verify the
authorization of this subscriber to receive the requested service,
and return a decryption key to the subscriber multi-mode device
101, 102 to enable it to decrypt the multi-media content 303 that
is being broadcast. The broadcast receiver of the multi-mode
subscriber device 101, 102 receives the encoded multi-media
transmissions 303 and uses the decryption key that was received
from the carrier operations center 304 to convert the received
encrypted multi-media content into its native format and deliver
the multi-media content to the subscriber.
[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates, in flow diagram form, the operation of
the reverse path transaction management system 114 in this combined
broadcast and cellular communication network architecture. At step
401, the wireless subscriber device 101 is connected to a broadcast
channel 303 from the serving multi-media content transmitter 302,
receiving this transmission on the forward path of the broadcast
channel 303 along with other wireless subscriber devices 102. At
step 402, the subscriber activates wireless subscriber device 101
to initiate a transaction. This decision can be in response to
multi-media content transmitted to the wireless subscriber device
101 on the forward path of the broadcast channel 303 where a
product or service is advertised as part of the multi-media
content. If the subscriber wishes to purchase the advertised
product or service, this can be done without having the subscriber
disconnect or interrupt the multi-media content that is being
delivered on the forward channel of the broadcast channel 303. The
subscriber is one of a plurality of subscribers whose wireless
subscriber devices 101, 102 are concurrently connected to the same
broadcast channel 303, so all the subscribers are receiving the
same multi-media content. The subscriber is uniquely identified as
part of the above-described registration process and can
communicate with the Reverse Path Transaction Management System 114
via the reverse path of a multicast channel 151 or a point-to-point
channel in a secure, subscriber specific manner, using the cell
phone that is part of the multi-mode device 101. This enables the
subscriber to signal the Reverse Path Transaction Management System
114 of their desire to initiate a transaction by signaling on the
reverse path of the multicast channel 151 or a point-to-point
channel, yet not have to disconnect from the broadcast channel 303
and originate a separate point-to-point communication connection
from the wireless subscriber device 101 to the point-of-sale server
150 to initiate and effect a transaction, as is required in
existing systems.
[0039] Thus, in response to the subscriber activating wireless
subscriber device 101 to initiate a transaction at step 402, the
wireless subscriber device 101 transmits wireless subscriber device
identification and a transaction initiation message to Serving
Mobile Switching Center 106 at step 403 and, at step 404, the
Reverse Path Transaction Management System 114, in response to
received wireless subscriber device identification and a
transaction initiation message forwarded by the Serving Mobile
Switching Center 106, retrieves subscriber profile data from
VLR/HLR of the Serving Mobile Switching Center 106 and initiates a
dialog session with wireless subscriber device 101. The data
received from the wireless subscriber device 101 may include a tag
from the multi-media content to specify which advertised product or
service was displayed when the subscriber made their selection,
thereby to ensure the proper linking of the transaction to the
product or service desired by the subscriber. The subscriber data
can include credit card data to enable the transaction to be billed
to the subscriber's credit card, or the transaction can be billed
to the subscriber's wireless service provider account using their
telephone number, or to a third party payment service.
[0040] At step 405, the Reverse Path Transaction Management System
114 transmits transaction related data exclusively to wireless
subscriber device 101 via a signaling channel on the multicast
channel 151 or a point-to-point channel, which is concurrently
active with the broadcast channel 303. The signaling channel could
be logical or physical in its extent. The subscriber uses the
wireless subscriber device 101 at step 406 to complete a
transaction via an exchange of messages with the Reverse Path
Transaction Management System 114 via the reverse path or an
auxiliary channel on the shared multicast channel 151 or the
point-to-point channel. These information exchanges can include
verification of the transaction, authorization to complete the
transaction, a further definition of the goods or services desired,
delivery instructions, and the like. For example, a pizza
advertisement can be presented in the program content, and the
subscriber can initiate a pizza delivery. The above-noted
interactions can specify the number of pizzas desired and the
toppings on each of the pizzas, as well as the delivery address.
This enables the subscriber to efficiently order without
interrupting the program content. The further information requested
from the subscriber can be displayed on a "ticker" line on the
screen of the display of the wireless subscriber device 101, and
the subscriber can input data via the keypad of the wireless
subscriber device 101.
[0041] Upon completion of a transaction, the Reverse Path
Transaction Management System 114 at step 407 releases the
signaling channel of the shared multicast channel 151 or the
point-to-point channel, and the wireless subscriber device 101
discontinues transmission on the reverse path since the transaction
is completed. In this manner, the multi-media content delivery is
uninterrupted and delivered over a high bandwidth channel 303, yet
the subscriber is able to concurrently execute a transaction which
can be coordinated with the multi-media content delivery using the
bi-directional communication capability of the associated cellular
communication network 110 via either a multicast channel 151 or a
point-to-point channel.
SUMMARY
[0042] The reverse path transaction management system enables the
subscriber to receive the multicast on their wireless subscriber
device via the forward channel, concurrently with a plurality of
other subscribers on the same forward channel, and simultaneously
initiate a transaction to purchase goods and/or services via the
reverse path associated with the shared forward channel.
* * * * *