Mobile-originated SMS local broadcast

A method and system for local broadcasting of messages from a wireless mobile device to many others located within the same geographic area. This can be done using SMS messaging wherein a message to be broadcast is addressed to a particular designated address and, when received by a wireless carrier system, is checked to determine that it came from an authorized sender, and then is broadcasted by the wireless carrier system to a geographically-limited area within which the sending wireless mobile device is located.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to methods and equipment for communicating locally among people for purposes such as ride sharing, traffic alerts, and social networking and, more particularly, to methods and equipment that carry out such communications using vehicle telematics units and/or portable wireless devices such as cellular phones that can communicate via short message service (SMS).

BACKGROUND

Ride sharing is a useful approach to efficient use of transportation, allowing the movement of people in groups of two or more using a single vehicle. Larger, more congested cities may require longer travel times between destinations and often contain large populations of people that have to commute daily from residential communities outside the city to downtown offices. Many such cities have added high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes intended to encourage ride sharing (aka carpooling). Various ways have been employed to place potential carpoolers in contact with each other; most recently, using Internet websites. This can be useful for planned trips or daily work commutes, but not as useful for single ad hoc trips.

In most large cities and elsewhere, wireless communication devices have become ubiquitous, including in particular wireless mobile devices such as cellular phones and vehicle communication devices. Many of these devices use one or more types of communication channels, including voice and data channels, to enable communication and provide a variety of services over wireless networks. They are useful for personal communication to and from individuals and businesses known to the user, but are currently not as useful for distributed communications and, as such, are not particularly useful for directly communicating with local populations of people for purposes such as ride sharing, traffic alerts, etc.

SMS-enabled wireless mobile devices transmit short text messages between different wireless mobile devices, most commonly mobile phones. SMS messaging has a number of desirable attributes that have made it quite a popular form of communicating, including attributes pertaining to its speed and its privacy. The typical use of SMS messaging requires the sender to address the message individually to each intended recipient, whether that be one or many individuals. Thus, SMS as it is widely used today, is not a useful way of connecting with large numbers of people such as potential ride sharing partners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of broadcasting a message to nearby wireless mobile devices. The method includes the steps of: receiving a message sent from a wireless communications device over a data connection; determining that the message was directed to a designated broadcast address; and in response to the determination, broadcasting the message to wireless mobile devices within a geographically-limited area within which the wireless communications device is located.

According to another embodiment, the above method can be carried out using SMS messaging wherein the SMS message is addressed by the sender to a particular telephone number that is recognized as such by a wireless carrier system that receives the SMS message. In this other embodiment, the receiving location can be determined and used to geographically limit the broadcast of the SMS message to the same area. Also in this embodiment, the received SMS message is broadcast only if it is authorized (e.g., if it comes from an authorized sender).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

The method described herein can be used to enable localized broadcast of messages between wireless mobile devices for purposes such as ride sharing, providing traffic alerts, social networking, etc. The messages can be broadcast from and/or to various types of wireless mobile devices, such as vehicle telematics units and portable personal cellular phones or other wirelessly-enabled devices. The disclosed method is primarily directed to the use of SMS messages to carry out the local broadcasting, but email, instant messaging and other technologies can be used in addition to or in lieu of SMS messages. In general, the method involves sending a message to a designated broadcast address, e.g., a particular telephone number, which, when received by the wireless communication network, is recognized as a message intended for local broadcast. The message may then be authenticated to protect against things such as spamming, and then sent to some or all mobile devices within a geographically-limited area within which the sending wireless mobile device is located. This geographic restriction on the broadcasting of the message can be carried out in various ways, such as by limiting broadcasting to one or more specific base station antennas. For example, the base station on which the sending mobile device is registered can be used as the sole base station from which the message is then broadcast.

As used herein, a wireless mobile device is a type of wireless communications device. Wireless mobile devices include vehicle telematics units, a personal wireless devices (such as a cellular mobile telephone), or other portable devices having wireless communication capability via a chipset or other circuitry that enables the mobile device to communicate wirelessly with other devices or equipment.

Vehicle Communications System—

With reference toFIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary operating environment that comprises a vehicle communications system10and that can be used to implement the method disclosed herein. Vehicle communications system10generally includes a telematics-equipped vehicle12, one or more wireless carrier systems14, a land communications network16, a computer18, a call center20, various personal wireless devices22, and a short message service center (SMSC)24. It should be understood that the disclosed method can be used with any number of different systems and is not specifically limited to the operating environment shown here. Also, many aspects related to the architecture, construction, setup, and operation of vehicle communication system10and its individual components are generally known in the art. Thus, the following paragraphs simply provide a brief overview of one such exemplary system10; however, other systems not shown here could employ the disclosed method as well.

Vehicle12is depicted in the illustrated embodiment as a passenger car, but it should be appreciated that any other vehicle including motorcycles, trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), recreational vehicles (RVs), marine vessels, aircraft, etc., can also be used. Some of the vehicle electronics28are shown generally inFIG. 1and includes a telematics unit30, a microphone32, one or more pushbuttons or other control inputs34, an audio system36, a visual display38, and a GPS module40as well as a number of vehicle system modules (VSMs)42. Some of these devices can be connected directly to the telematics unit such as, for example, the microphone32and pushbutton(s)34, whereas others are indirectly connected using one or more network connections, such as a communications bus44or an entertainment bus46. Examples of suitable network connections include a controller area network (CAN), a media oriented system transfer (MOST), a local interconnection network (LIN), a local area network (LAN), and other appropriate connections such as Ethernet or others that conform with known ISO, SAE and IEEE standards and specifications, to name but a few.

Telematics unit30is an OEM-installed or aftermarket device that enables wireless voice and/or data communication over wireless carrier system14and/or a separate wireless network so that the vehicle can communicate with call center20, other telematics-equipped vehicles, or some other entity or device. According to one embodiment, the telematics unit uses radio transmissions to establish a communications channel (a voice channel and/or a data channel) with wireless carrier system14so that voice and/or data transmissions can be sent and received over the communications channel. By providing both voice and data communication, telematics unit30enables the vehicle to offer a number of different services including those related to messaging, navigation, telephony, emergency assistance, diagnostics, infotainment, etc. Data can be sent over a data connection, such as via a packet switching connection, or via a voice channel using techniques already known in the art. For combined services that involve both voice communication and data communication, the system can utilize a single call over a voice channel and switch as needed between voice and data transmission over the voice channel, and this can be done using techniques known to those skilled in the art.

According to one embodiment, telematics unit30utilizes cellular communication according to either GSM or CDMA standards and thus includes a standard cellular chipset50for voice communications like hands-free calling, a wireless modem for data transmission, an electronic processing device52, one or more digital memory devices54, and a dual antenna56. It should be appreciated that the modem can either be implemented through software or it can be a separate hardware component located internal or external to telematics unit30. The modem can operate using any number of different standards or protocols such as EVDO, CDMA, GPRS, and EDGE. Wireless networking between the vehicle and other networked devices can also be carried out using telematics unit30. For this purpose, telematics unit30can be configured to communicate wirelessly according to one or more wireless protocols, such as any of the IEEE 802.11 protocols, WiMAX, or Bluetooth. When used for packet switching data communication such as TCP/IP, the telematics unit can be configured with a static IP address or can set up to automatically receive an assigned IP address from another device on the network such as a router or from a network address server.

Apart from the audio system36and GPS module40, the vehicle12can include other vehicle system modules (VSMs)42in the form of electronic hardware components that are located throughout the vehicle and typically receive input from one or more sensors and use the sensed input to perform diagnostic, monitoring, control, reporting and/or other functions. Each of the VSMs42is preferably connected by communications bus44to the other VSMs, as well as to the telematics unit30, and can be programmed to run vehicle system and subsystem diagnostic tests and perform other functions. As examples, one VSM42can be an engine control module (ECM) that controls various aspects of engine operation such as fuel ignition and ignition timing, another VSM42can be a powertrain control module that regulates operation of one or more components of the vehicle powertrain, and another VSM42can be a body control module that governs various electrical components located throughout the vehicle, like the vehicle's power door locks. According to one embodiment, the ECM is equipped with on-board diagnostic (OBD) features that provide myriad real-time data, such as that received from various sensors including vehicle emissions sensors, and provide a standardized series of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) that allow a technician to rapidly identify and remedy malfunctions within the vehicle. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, the above-mentioned VSMs are only examples of some of the modules that may be used in vehicle12, as numerous others are also possible.

Vehicle electronics28also includes a number of vehicle user interfaces that provide vehicle occupants with a means of providing and/or receiving information, including microphone32, pushbuttons(s)34, audio system36, and visual display38. As used herein, the term ‘vehicle user interface’ broadly includes any suitable form of electronic device, including both hardware and software components, which is located on the vehicle and enables a vehicle user to communicate with or through a component of the vehicle. Microphone32provides audio input to the telematics unit to enable the driver or other occupant to provide voice commands and carry out hands-free calling via the wireless carrier system14. For this purpose, it can be connected to an on-board automated voice processing unit utilizing human-machine interface (HMI) technology known in the art. The pushbutton(s)34allow manual user input into the telematics unit30to initiate wireless telephone calls and provide other data, response, or control input. Separate pushbuttons can be used for initiating emergency calls versus regular service assistance calls to the call center20. Audio system36provides audio output to a vehicle occupant and can be a dedicated, stand-alone system or part of the primary vehicle audio system. According to the particular embodiment shown here, audio system36is operatively coupled to both vehicle bus44and entertainment bus46and can provide AM, FM and satellite radio, CD, DVD and other multimedia functionality. This functionality can be provided in conjunction with or independent of the infotainment module described above. Visual display38is preferably a graphics display, such as a touch screen on the instrument panel, a pop-up visual display, or a heads-up display reflected off of the windshield, and can be used to provide a multitude of input and output functions. Various other vehicle user interfaces can also be utilized, as the interfaces ofFIG. 1are only an example of one particular implementation.

Wireless carrier system14is preferably a cellular telephone system that includes a plurality of cell towers70(only one shown), one or more mobile switching centers (MSCs)72, as well as any other networking components required to connect wireless carrier system14with land network16. Each cell tower70includes sending and receiving antennas and a base station, with the base stations from different cell towers being connected to the MSC72either directly or via intermediary equipment such as a base station controller. Wireless carrier system14can implement any suitable communications technology, including for example, analog technologies such as AMPS, or the newer digital technologies such as CDMA (e.g., CDMA2000) or GSM/GPRS. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various cell tower/base station/MSC arrangements are possible and could be used with wireless system14. For instance, the base station and cell tower could be co-located at the same site or they could be remotely located from one another, each base station could be responsible for a single cell tower or a single base station could service various cell towers, and various base stations could be coupled to a single MSC, to name but a few of the possible arrangements.

Apart from using wireless carrier system14, a different wireless carrier system in the form of satellite communication can be used to provide uni-directional or bi-directional communication with the vehicle. This can be done using one or more communication satellites62and an uplink transmitting station64. Uni-directional communication can be, for example, satellite radio services, wherein programming content (news, music, etc.) is received by transmitting station64, packaged for upload, and then sent to the satellite62, which broadcasts the programming to subscribers. Bi-directional communication can be, for example, satellite telephony services using satellite62to relay telephone communications between the vehicle12and station64. If used, this satellite telephony can be utilized either in addition to or in lieu of wireless carrier system14. As mentioned above, it is also possible for vehicle12to communicate with one or more wireless networks through wireless protocols such as any of the IEEE 802.11 protocols, WiMAX, or Bluetooth.

Computer18can be one of a number of computers accessible via a private or public network such as the Internet. Each such computer18can be used for one or more purposes, such as a web server accessible by the vehicle via telematics unit30and wireless carrier14. Other such accessible computers18can be, for example: a service center computer where diagnostic information and other vehicle data can be uploaded from the vehicle via the telematics unit30; a client computer used by the vehicle owner or other subscriber for such purposes as accessing or receiving vehicle data or for setting up or configuring subscriber preferences; or a third party repository to or from which vehicle data or other information is provided, whether by communicating with the vehicle12or call center20, or both. A computer18can also be used for providing Internet connectivity such as DNS services or as a network address server that uses DHCP or other suitable protocol to assign an IP address to the vehicle12.

Call center20is designed to provide the vehicle with a number of different system back-end functions and, according to the exemplary embodiment shown here, generally includes one or more switches80, servers82, databases84, live advisors86, as well as an automated voice response system (VRS)88, all of which are known in the art. These various call center components are preferably coupled to one another via a wired or wireless local area network90. Switch80, which can be a private branch exchange (PBX) switch, routes incoming signals so that voice transmissions are usually sent to either the live adviser86by regular phone or to the automated voice response system88using VoIP. The live advisor phone can also use VoIP as indicated by the broken line inFIG. 1. VoIP and other data communication through the switch80is implemented via a modem (not shown) connected between the switch80and network90. Data transmissions are passed via the modem to server82and/or database84. Database84can store account information such as subscriber authentication information, sequence counters, vehicle identifiers, profile records, behavioral patterns, and other pertinent subscriber information. Data transmissions may also be conducted by wireless systems, such as 802.11x, GPRS, and the like. Although the illustrated embodiment has been described as it would be used in conjunction with a manned call center20using live advisor86, it will be appreciated that the call center can instead utilize VRS88as an automated advisor or, a combination of VRS88and the live advisor86can be used.

The personal wireless devices22can be, for example, cellular phones or other personal portable devices capable of wireless communication including, for the illustrated embodiment, SMS messaging capability. The devices22can communicate with the wireless carriers system, or network,14to send and receive voice calls, SMS messages, and possibly other communications such as non-speech data for purposes of providing Internet access, weather information, stock information, etc.

Short message service center (SMSC)24is preferably in communication with wireless carrier system14and/or land network16and is involved in the communication of SMS messages. SMSC24can operate according to a store-and-forward principal; that is, when a first user sends an SMS message that is intended for a second user, the SMS message gets stored at the SMSC until the second user is available to receive it. In other embodiments, the SMSC employs a store-and-forget approach where it only attempts to pass the SMS message along one time. These types of approaches enable users to send and receive SMS messages at any time, even if they are currently on a voice call. It should of course be appreciated that the exemplary representation of SMSC24is but one example of a suitable arrangement, as the SMSC could instead be provided according to some other configuration known in the art. For instance, SMSC24could be integrated within wireless carrier system14and/or land network16, instead of being schematically shown as a separate stand-alone component. Also, it is to be understood that multiple SMSCs may be utilized. In general, SMS messages sent to or from the vehicle12or wireless mobile devices22are received and/or transmitted by the base station70, and pass through the MSC72and SMSC24for processing and routing.

An exemplary set of methods for use in enabling localized broadcasting of SMS messages over the wireless communication system10will now be described. In the illustrated embodiment, this localized broadcasting of messages can be implemented as a service to which vehicle owners as well as others having personal wireless devices can register or “opt-in”. This is shown inFIG. 2. This can be done for the purpose of allowing them to broadcast messages, to receive such messages, or both. Vehicle owners having a telematics-equipped vehicle, such as vehicle12with its telematics unit30, can register the telematics unit30with the service, and software stored in the telematics unit can be used to provide a user interface via display38or otherwise, in order to provide the user with an easy-to-use means of broadcasting or receiving messages. The telematics unit30can be registered with the broadcasting service by presenting the vehicle owner or other subscriber with a menu option that can be selected on the display38or by voice command via microphone32to cause the telematics unit to send an SMS message or other communication to the call center20or to another remotely-located service registration server. The personal wireless devices22can register with the service using their SMS capability or can include special programming, such as an “app” that is configured to permit registration of the device. Alternatively, registration can be carried out via a web-portal that presents a text input form or other means of receiving registration information from the user.

The result of registration can be a database of registered users which can be a collection of cellular telephone numbers (for the telematics unit(s)30, personal wireless devices22, etc.) or can be other information that, together with the SMS messages received for broadcasting, permits authentication or authorization of the message for subsequent broadcasting. As will be described below, in some embodiments, the authorization of SMS messages to be broadcast is carried out by the call center20, in which case the database of registered users can be maintained there. In other embodiments, the registration information is provided to the wireless carrier system14for database storage at, for example, the SMSC24or MSC72, and this permits authorization and broadcasting of messages without the need to contact call center20.

An advantage of requiring registration of users is that it can be used to authenticate and/or authorize the broadcasting of the messages received so as to reduce the possibility of spam or mischievous use of the service. Further security measures can be used, such as by having the wireless mobile devices (vehicle telematics units30and personal wireless devices22) register with the base station70using a code, device ESN, or other means of ensuring that subsequent messages received by the base station which purportedly come from that device, in fact do so. As one example, rolling codes can be used which can change each time the wireless mobile device registers with the base station or can be changed based on other events, such as following each completed SMS or voice call communication. These codes can be sent with the SMS transmission to authenticate the sending device with the base station.

In other embodiments, registration is not used, and users are free to send or receive locally broadcasted SMS messages. In yet another embodiment, registration is required for a user to be able to broadcast messages, but is not required to receive them. Or, in another embodiment, registration is only used to enable receipt of broadcast messages, in which case anyone will be able to send them, but only those registered will receive them.

FIG. 3depicts an overall flowchart for a method100of using the service following registration, if any. First, at step102the user constructs and sends the SMS message. To do this, the message is addressed to a specially designated address. This designated broadcast address can be a certain telephone number (e.g., 999-999-9999) that is recognized by the wireless carrier system14so that the received SMS message is properly processed and/or routed for authorization and broadcasting. This construction and sending of the SMS message can be carried out on one of the personal wireless devices22, or at the vehicle telematics unit30. Once the message is sent, then at step104it is received by the wireless carrier system14at one of its cell towers70. At step106a determination is made that the message is intended for local broadcast—again, this can be based on the fact that it was sent by the user to the designated broadcast address. This determination can be done at the wireless carrier system14(e.g., at the SMSC24or MSC72), or can be done at the call center20. In this latter approach, the SMS message can be processed as normal by the wireless carrier system14and sent to the call center20based on the designated broadcast address actually being a telephone number assigned to the call center. By receiving the SMS message at the call center using the particular telephone number, the call center can process the SMS message as a broadcast request.

Once it has been determined that the SMS message is one intended to be broadcast locally, a check is made at step108to determine if the requested broadcast is authorized. As discussed above, this can be done by comparing sender information (e.g., the originating telephone number) to registration information stored in a database at the wireless carrier system14or at the call center20, or at another remote location. Given that SMS text messages can also be originated via email and converted to a text message by an email to SMS gateway or interface, the sender information used for authorization purpose in this instance can be, for example, the sender's email address, or an originating IP address of the sender's computer or Internet service provider. If not authorized, then the process can end without broadcasting of the message. If desired, a response message can be returned to the sender informing them that the message was not broadcast and/or inviting them to register for the service, as indicated at step110. If authorized, then at step112the message is broadcast to a geographically-limited region within which the sender is located. The process then ends.

Limiting the broadcast to a local geographic region can be done in any of a variety of different ways. In one embodiment, the identification of the cell tower/base station that received the SMS message from the sender can be noted and used as the sole location from which it is then broadcast. Where all the processing of the SMS message (steps104-108) are carried out within the network (wireless carrier system14), the receiving base station ID can be determined and temporarily stored until the message is authorized, after which this ID can be used to broadcast the SMS message only to wireless mobile devices currently registered with that base station. In another embodiment, the base station ID or other such information is sent with the SMS message to the call center20for authorization, following which this information is then sent back to the wireless carrier system14so that it can broadcast the now authorized message from the appropriate base station.

Other ways can be used to determine geographically where to broadcast the SMS message. For example, location information such as GPS coordinates of the wireless mobile device could be included in the SMS payload and used by the call center to identify where the network should broadcast the message. Alternatively, this device location information can be provided to the call center in another way, such as via a separate data call to the call center. In yet another embodiment, a home location for the wireless mobile device can be used by the call center; such home locations are sometimes used for vehicle telematics units as an identification of where the vehicle is normally garaged when not in use. Or, as with the base station ID, location information not obtained from the wireless mobile device can be used, such as an SID of the network. The selection of what geographic indicator is to be used can vary depending on the size of the geographic region and other considerations. The wireless carrier system can be configured to use any of these different geographic area identification approaches to restrict the geographic extent of the broadcast. For example, the wireless carrier system can have map data or other information that can be used to correlate a particular location of the originating wireless mobile device with that of its antennas.

As applied to ride sharing, for example, a user having vehicle12with its telematics unit30registered for the service may send an SMS message offering to provide one or more others with a ride, stating for example, “Heading from Clarkston 2 RenCen on I-75S. Looking 4 SWF passenger for at least 2 day. Call me at 248-555-9112.” This could be entered via the user interface, such as via the display38or voice input to the automatic speech recognition system using microphone32. The message is then sent, authorized, and broadcast to others registered in the same cell. As noted above, beyond ride sharing, the method can be used for other types of communication, e.g., to provide and receive traffic alerts, socializing, and other notifications, such as to send notifications of severe weather, road closures, hazardous material spills, or sources of low cost fuel. To simplify use of the system, each of these different message types (ride sharing versus traffic alerts) can be identified in the SMS message, such as by pre-pending or appending a code onto the text message which can then be received and interpreted as a part of processing the message for broadcasting. For example, a user menu can be provided, whether on the vehicle via display38or audibly via audio system36, or on the personal wireless devices22via an app or other special programming. This menu can include different selectable menu items, such as “Ride Share Request”, “Traffic Alerts”, “Severe Weather Alerts”, “Road Closures”, “Hazardous Material Spills”, “Low Cost Fuel”, or “Personals”. When the user selects the desired menu item, the system can automatically add on an associated code to the SMS payload. Then, during processing by the network or call center, this code can be extracted and used, for example, to direct the message being broadcast to only those who have registered for that particular type of service, or can be used by the end receiving devices to determine whether to ignore the message or present it to the user of the device. Thus, for example, some users may register to receive and/or send traffic alerts and low cost fuel locations, but not for ride sharing or any social networking functions.

The selective broadcasting of the SMS message to only certain people within the geographic area covered by the broadcast can be achieved in various ways. For example, the wireless mobile devices (whether the telematics unit30or personal wireless device22) can include software that detects receipt of a broadcasted SMS message (e.g., based on the use of the designated broadcast address used by the sender). Then, the devices can look for the appropriate code indicating the message type (e.g., ride share request versus traffic alert) and automatically decide based on that whether to present the message.

Apart from registration, another way to avoid presenting broadcasted messages to those not wishing to participate is to use an encrypted binary SMS message, which will be ignored by standard text messaging programs, but can be decrypted and used by the vehicle telematics unit30or other properly programmed wireless mobile devices. Once decrypted, the message can then be presented to the user as text.

While the illustrated embodiment is directed to the use of SMS messages for the localized broadcasting, it will be appreciated that other implementations are possible. For example, local SMS broadcasting can be used to distribute a message received by some means other than SMS. Or, means other than SMS broadcasting can be used to send the message to a particular geographic population. Other such means of communication and distribution will become apparent to those skilled in the art.