Method and apparatus for warning a mobile user approaching a boundary of an area of interest
View Patent ↗A mobile wireless system includes a transmitter such as a satellite that broadcasts wireless signals such as boundaries for specific areas to a mobile receiving device. Mobile receiving device may include an antenna and a mobile receiving device. A locating receiver is used to generate locating signals so that a determination may be made to the location of the mobile receiving device. When the mobile receiving device approaches the boundary of the designated marketing area, a warning is generated.
1. A method of operating a mobile device having a display associated therewith comprising:
determining a location of the mobile device;
determining the location is within an unserved area outside a first designated marketing area and a second designated marketing area;
when the mobile device is in the unserved area, determining a first distance from the mobile device to a first broadcast center within the first designated marketing area;
when the mobile device is in the unserved area, determining a second distance from the mobile device to a second broadcast center within the second designated marketing area;
broadcasting wireless signals having location specific information therein in the first designated marketing area and the second designated marketing area from the first broadcast center and the second respective broadcast center;
determining a shortest distance of the first distance and the second distance;
receiving the wireless signals at the mobile device; and
displaying the wireless signals of the first designated marketing area or the second designated marketing area corresponding to the shortest distance.
2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.
3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile device comprises a personal electronic device.
4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile device comprises a laptop computer.
5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a location comprises determining the location in response to a GPS receiver.
6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a location comprises determining the location in response to a GPS receiver disposed within the mobile receiving device.
7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a location comprises determining the location in response to a cellular phone system.
8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving wireless signals from a satellite.
9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting from a terrestrial source.
10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the terrestrial source comprises a cell tower.
11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting from a satellite.
12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting comprises broadcasting from a stratospheric platform.
13. A mobile device coupled to a GPS receiver generating GPS signals comprising:
a display; and
a controller coupled to the GPS receiver and the display, said controller determining a location of the mobile device, determining the location is within an unserved area outside a first designated marketing area and a second designated marketing area;
when the mobile device is in the unserved area, determining a first distance from the mobile device to a first broadcast center within the first designated marketing area;
when the mobile device is in the unserved area, determining a second distance from the mobile device to a second broadcast center within the second designated marketing area;
determining a shortest distance of the first distance and the second distance;
said controller receiving wireless signals broadcasted from the first broadcast center and the second broadcast center, and displaying the wireless signals corresponding to the first designated marketing area or the second designated marketing area corresponding to the shortest distance.
14. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.
15. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the mobile device comprises a personal electronic device.
16. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the mobile device comprises a laptop computer.
17. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the controller receives the wireless signal comprising local channels corresponding to the first designated marketing area.
18. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the controller receives wireless signals from a satellite.
19. A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the controller receives wireless signals from a terrestrial source.
20. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the controller receives wireless signals from a cell tower.