Distributing alert messages via unlicensed spectrum

1. In a commercial mobile alert system including a primary carrier network logically connected to a secondary network, the primary network characterizing a first network type adapted for use of licensed wireless spectrum and the secondary network characterizing a second network type adapted for use of unlicensed wireless spectrum, a method comprising a gateway node of the primary carrier network:

receiving a commercial mobile alert message directed to an indicated geographic area;

executing a technology selection policy to determine a delivery profile appropriate for the commercial mobile alert message, the technology selection policy including first selection criteria determinative of selection of the licensed wireless spectrum and a second selection criteria determinative of selection of the unlicensed wireless spectrum defining the delivery profile;

comparing primary carrier network traffic to a high threshold and a low threshold;

deselecting the primary carrier network after the primary carrier network traffic is greater than the high threshold;

selecting the primary carrier network after the primary carrier network traffic is less than the low threshold;

delivering the commercial mobile alert message to one or more mobile devices in the indicated geographic area according to the delivery profile;

specifying message delivery via one or both of the licensed wireless spectrum and the unlicensed wireless spectrum;

maintaining a database identifying one or more WiFi routers in the indicated geographic area mapped to respective WiFi router IP addresses; and

sending the commercial mobile alert message to the one or more WiFi routers in the indicated geographic area via the respective WiFi router IP addresses, wherein the indicated geographic area, which corresponds to one or more respective Tracking Area IDs of the primary carrier network, is mapped to the primary carrier network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gateway node comprises a broadcast message center (BMC).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gateway node comprises a base station.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary network comprises an LTE-L network and the secondary network comprises one of a WiFi network and an LTE-U network.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the secondary network comprises the WiFi network, and, responsive to executing the technology selection policy, the delivery profile specifies message delivery via the WiFi network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first selection criteria includes a traffic condition, comprising:

selecting the licensed wireless spectrum as a mode of message delivery after the primary carrier network traffic does not exceed the low threshold; and

deselecting the licensed wireless spectrum as the mode of message delivery after the primary carrier network exceeds the high threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second selection criteria includes a traffic condition, comprising:

selecting the unlicensed wireless spectrum as the mode of message delivery after the primary carrier network traffic exceeds the high threshold.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second selection criteria specifies selecting the unlicensed wireless spectrum as the mode of message delivery regardless of the primary carrier network traffic.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second selection criteria include one or more of:

time criteria specifying selection or deselection of the licensed wireless spectrum or the unlicensed wireless spectrum based on one or more of: time of day, days of week; and

pricing criteria specifying selection or deselection of the licensed wireless spectrum or the unlicensed wireless spectrum based on projected costs associated with use of the primary carrier network and the secondary network.

10. A gateway node, in accordance with a commercial mobile alert system including a primary carrier network logically connected to a secondary network, the gateway node associated with the primary carrier network and logically connected to the secondary network, the primary network characterizing a first network type adapted for use of licensed wireless spectrum and the secondary network characterizing a second network type adapted for use of unlicensed wireless spectrum, the gateway node comprising:

an input interface;

a primary network output interface;

a secondary network output interface;

a memory; and

at least one processor operably coupled to the input interface, the primary network output interface the secondary network output interface, and the memory and configured to:

receive a commercial mobile alert message directed to an indicated geographic area;

execute a technology selection policy to determine a delivery profile appropriate for the commercial mobile alert message, the technology selection policy including first selection criteria determinative of selection of the licensed wireless spectrum and a second selection criteria determinative of selection of the unlicensed wireless spectrum defining the delivery profile;

compare primary carrier network traffic to a high threshold and a low threshold;

deselect the primary carrier network after the primary carrier network traffic is greater than the high threshold;

select the primary carrier network after the primary carrier network traffic is less than the low threshold;

deliver the commercial mobile alert message to one or more mobile devices in the indicated geographic area according to the delivery profile;

specify message delivery via one or both of the licensed wireless spectrum and the unlicensed wireless spectrum;

maintain a database identifying one or more WiFi routers in the indicated geographic area mapped to respective WiFi router IP addresses, and

send the commercial mobile alert message to the one or more WiFi routers in the indicated geographic area via the respective WiFi router IP addresses, wherein the indicated geographic area, which corresponds to one or more respective Tracking Area IDs of the primary carrier network, is mapped to the primary carrier network.

11. The gateway node of claim 10 , comprising a broadcast message center (BMC).

12. The gateway node of claim 10 , comprising a base station.

13. A network device for communicating alert messages, in accordance with a commercial alert system including a primary carrier network logically connected to a secondary network via a gateway node, the network device logically connected to the gateway node, the gateway node associated with a primary carrier network characterizing a first network type adapted for use of licensed wireless spectrum, the network device associated with a secondary network adapted for use of unlicensed wireless spectrum, the network device comprising:

an input interface;

an output interface;

a memory; and

at least one processor operably coupled to the input interface, the output interface, and the memory and configured to:

receive a public safety alert message from the gateway node, the public safety alert message directed to an indicated geographic area;

compare primary carrier network traffic to a high threshold and a low threshold:

deselect the primary carrier network after the primary carrier network traffic is greater than the high threshold;

select the primary carrier network after the primary carrier network traffic is less than the low threshold:

distribute the public safety alert message to one or more connected user devices in the indicated geographic area via the unlicensed wireless spectrum;

maintain a database identifying one or more WiFi routers in the indicated geographic area mapped to respective WiFi router IP addresses, and

send the commercial mobile alert message to the one or more WiFi routers in the indicated geographic area via the respective WiFi router IP addresses, wherein the indicated geographic area, which corresponds to one or more respective Tracking Area IDs of the primary carrier network, is mapped to the primary carrier network.

14. The network device of claim 13 , comprising a WiFi router, the secondary network defining a WiFi network.