Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to cell broadcast messaging and, more particularly, to prioritized display of cell broadcast messages on a mobile device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Cell broadcast is a messaging service that allows for the simultaneous delivery of messages to a group of users in a specified area. Emergency Alert Service (EAS) messages, advertisements, weather forecasts, breaking news, and sports updates can be sent to a mobile device via cell broadcast channels (CBCH). It is common for multiple cell broadcast (CB) messages of varying types to be sent to the mobile device. These CB messages are displayed on a first come, first serve basis. This display method may delay an important or urgent message from being processed and predominately displayed. 
   Thus, it is desirable to have devices, systems, and methods to display messages in accordance with a priority scheme such that higher priority messages are predominately displayed immediately upon receipt at the mobile device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Devices, systems, and methods are provided herein that overcome the limitations of the prior art. More specifically, a mobile communications device provided herein includes a transceiver, a display, a processor, and a memory. The memory includes a priority scheme that includes a priority level for a number of cell broadcast channels (CBCH). The priority scheme is configured to make the processor operable to present a number of CB messages received from the CBCHs on the device display, based upon the priority level. In one embodiment, the priority scheme includes at least one logic group that is assigned a priority level. 
   A computer readable memory that includes instructions for making a processor operable to assign a priority level to a number of CBCHs according to a priority scheme and to present a number of CB messages received via the CBCHs on a display based upon the priority level, is also provided. In one embodiment, the priority scheme includes at least one logic group that is assigned a priority level. The priority scheme can be static or dynamic. 
   An over-the-air (OTA) activation system is also provided. The OTA activation system includes a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network being configured to provide OTA activation service for at least one mobile communications device that is in communication with the wireless communications network. The wireless communications network is further configured to send a priority scheme to the mobile communications device. The priority scheme includes a priority level for a plurality of CBCHs. 
   A method for procuring a priority scheme includes the steps of activating a wireless telecommunications service, loading a priority scheme into a mobile communications device, receiving at least two cell broadcast (CB) messages at a mobile communications device, and displaying the CB messages in an order prescribed by the priority scheme. The priority scheme is configured to prioritize a number of CB messages received from a number of CBCHs. 
   In some embodiments, the priority scheme is received during the step of activating. In other embodiments, the method is received before the step of activating. In still other embodiments, the method is received after the step of activating. 
   The priority scheme can be pre-loaded on the device by one of a manufacture, a vendor, and a wireless service provider, or programmed into a subscriber identity module (SIM). In some embodiments, the priority scheme can be dynamically updated (e.g., via OTA). 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art cell broadcast system. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary priority screen, according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary priority scheme, according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary method for procuring a priority scheme via Over-the-Air (OTA) activation, according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary method for procuring a priority scheme via manufacture pre-load, according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
   Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  depicts a prior art cell broadcast system  100 . The illustrated cell broadcast system  100  includes a number of cell broadcast entities (CBE)  102  that are in communication with a cell broadcast center (CBC)  104 . The CBEs  102  are configured to identify the broadcast area for a CB message, provide content for the message, and otherwise format the message as is known to those skilled in the art. The CBC  104  is configured to manage the CB messages received from the various CBEs  102  and to communicate with the wireless network, for example, the illustrated Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)  106 . The CBC  104  is configured to store information corresponding to a number of Base Station Controllers (BSC)  108  and a number of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS)  110  as is known to those skilled in the art. 
   The illustrated PLMN  106  includes BSCs  108  that are in communication with a plurality of BTSs  110 , which in turn are in communication with a plurality of mobile stations (MS)  112 . The PLMN  106  may utilize any air interface known to those skilled in the art such as, but not limited to, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), and the like. For purposes of teaching and not limitation, the exemplary embodiments described herein use GSM as the air interface. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary priority screen  200  is illustrated on display  202  of MS  112 , according to the present invention. The exemplary priority screen  200  illustrates a priority order of CBCHs  204  as prescribed by a CBCH priority scheme stored within the MS  112 . It is contemplated that the CBCH priority scheme can be stored in a memory of the MS  112 . The memory can be, for example, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), or a hybrid combination thereof. In addition, the memory can be internal, external, and/or removably insertable into the MS  112 . 
   The CBCHs  204  are transmitted from the BTSs  110  with CBCH  2  being transmitted first, followed by CBCH  3 , CBCH  0 , and finally CBCH  1 . It is assumed that the MS  112  receives the CBCHs  204  in the same order. As is known to those skilled in the art, present cell broadcast systems are configured to display CB messages in order of receipt and regardless of message content. The priority screen  200 , however, utilizes a priority scheme to enable the display of CB messages based at least in part upon message content. 
   The priority screen  200  illustrates the current priority queue, wherein the CBCHs are ranked CBCH  0 , CBCH  3 , CBCH  1 , and CBCH  2  in accordance with the illustrated CBCH priority scheme. In this example, the CBCHs  204  include messages with content related to emergencies, advertisements, news, and weather. Other content types are contemplated as are other priority schemes. 
   In the illustrated embodiment, a message sent via the Emergency Alert System (EAS) via CBCH  0  is displayed first in the priority queue. In the known prior art implementations, this message would be displayed after weather on CBCH  2  and advertisements on CBCH  3 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary priority scheme  300  is shown, according to the present invention. The illustrated priority scheme  300  includes a priority level  302  that is associated with a CBCH logic group  304 , which in turn is associated with a number of CBCHs  306 . In one embodiment, the CBCH groups  304  are defined by the content of the CBCHs  306  such that CBCHs  306  with like content are associated with the same logic group. Each logic group is then assigned a different priority level. 
   The priority scheme  300  can be static or dynamic. In an exemplary static priority scheme, priority levels are assigned to each of the subscribed CBCHs. A CB message transmitted on a priority level I CBCH can be displayed first in accordance with the priority scheme, regardless of the message content. A dynamic priority scheme, however, can be configured to update the priority levels and/or group assignments based upon a variety of factors such as, but not limited to, a message content identifier in the CB message header (e.g., a cell broadcast message identifier (CBMI)). Accordingly, the CB message header is used to determine the content of the transmitted CB message. The content type is compared to the content type currently associated with the serving CBCH. If the message content identifier provides a content type not currently in record for the serving CBCH, then the dynamic priority scheme is updated for the new content type. Subsequent messages sent via this CBCH are then considered valid message types. It is contemplated that algorithms may be employed that can determine when it is appropriate to delete a content type. This can be determined by a sampling of the X most recent CB messages transmitted on the CBCH in question. Other methods for updating the priority levels of the CBCHs are contemplated. 
   The priority scheme  300  can be defined by the wireless service provider and/or the wireless subscriber. In some embodiments, software can be developed to allow the wireless subscriber to create and/or customize one or more priority schemes from the subscriber&#39;s MS. In other embodiments, the service provider can generate and send the priority scheme and/or priority scheme updates to the subscriber&#39;s MS. In still other embodiments, the priority scheme is pre-loaded in a memory of the MS by one of a manufacturer, vendor, or service provider prior to or at the point of sale of the MS. In still further embodiments, the priority scheme is programmed into the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). 
   It is contemplated that access settings can be implemented so as to regulate subscriber access to the priority scheme and thus prevent unwanted changes. For example, government regulations, service provider preferences, or the like may require emergency messages to be displayed first. Thus, a setting can be used to prevent a subscriber from changing the priority scheme to display other information such as news, weather, sports scores, advertisements, and the like from being displayed before a higher priority emergency message. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary method  400  for procuring a priority scheme via over-the-air (OTA) activation is shown, according to the present invention. It should be understood that the steps illustrated with regard to  FIG. 4  are not limited to the order shown. 
   The exemplary method  400  begins at step  402 . Following the retail purchase of a mobile station at step  404 , the customer initiates a telephone call using the provider network, as shown in step  406 . The customer is then prompted to complete a number of steps to activate a new account. At step  408 , the customer&#39;s account is activated. The method then proceeds to step  410 , wherein a CBCH priority scheme is pushed to the MS  112  and stored in a memory thereof. 
   It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, the provider network can send priority scheme updates to the MS  112 . As previously described, the priority scheme can be configured to dynamically update based upon the CB message content type. 
   At step  412 , CB messages are sent to the MS  112 . The MS  112  receives and displays the CB messages on a display  202  in accordance with the priority scheme at step  414 . The method ends at step  416 . In some embodiments, the priority scheme may be updated and as such, the method would proceeds back to step  410 , wherein the updated priority scheme is pushed to the MS  112  and stored in a memory. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary method  500  for procuring a priority scheme via pre-load is shown, according to the present invention. It should be understood that the steps illustrated with regard to  FIG. 5  are not limited to the order shown. 
   The exemplary method  500  begins at step  502  and proceeds to step  504 , wherein a CBCH priority scheme is pre-loaded into a memory of the MS  112 . The priority scheme can be pre-loaded by the MS  112  manufacturer, by the MS vendor, or by the wireless service provider. 
   Following the retail purchase of a MS at step  506 , the customer can activate service via any method known to those skilled in the art at step  508 . Common examples include in-store account activation and OTA activation. After the customer&#39;s account is activated, the method  500  proceeds to step  510 . 
   At step  510 , CB messages are sent to the MS  112 . The MS  112  receives and displays the CB messages on a display  202  in accordance with the priority scheme at step  512 . The method ends at step  514 . 
   In an alternative embodiment, the SIM can be programmed with one or more priority schemes. 
   The law does not require and it is economically prohibitive to illustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present claims. Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.

Technology Category: h