Uses of cell broadcast technology

Location based services

The technology allows to send messages to a single selected tower or a group of towers. That means messages can be sent location specific. This opens up many service areas. For eg :- if some mobile operator is conducting a free mobile check up camp at some place he can use the broadcasting technology to inform all the mobile users in that location by sending a broadcast message to the tower covering that location.

Emergency alerts

In case of a emergency at some place, all the mobile users in that place can be alerted in matter of seconds. Think of a situation where tsunami warnings send out to all mobile users 1 hour earlier, as soon as the satellites pick up the tsunami signals. Such an alert service can save many lives. The service can also be used to alert people when communal tension breaks out in some parts. The advantage is that the alerts can be confined to a region.

Traffic Alerts

In cities with heavy traffic, the drivers can be alerted of traffic blocks and accidents as they happen so that they can change their route and avoid traffic congestion. This system can replace traffic radios.

Operator information

The mobile operator can make use of the cell broadcasting technology very efficiently. He can send out tarrif changes, advertisments, new service announcements etc via cell broadcasting. Sending out individual SMS uses network bandwidth, but broadcast messages dont consume any bandwidth.

The Technology

Mobile towers are under the contorl of Base station controllers or BSCs. Broadcast is possible only via BSCs. CBC or a cell broadcast center is connected to every BSC in a mobile network to achieve broadcasting. When the user selectes an area to broadcast a message, the CBC converts that area into a set of BSCs and mobile towers. CBC also scheduels messages for broadcast. The CBC is the heart of the cell broadcasting system and and acts as the server for all external message broadcasting entities. Unlike SMS, broadcast message is an unconfirmed push service. There is no delivery report for the sender to confirm that everyone has recieved the message.

To recieve a broadcast message the mobile subsciber must tune into that broadcast channel. Most modern mobiles are equipped with this technology and the hadsets will be preactivated to recieve broadcast messages. A single broadcast message can contain upto 1395 characters, and equivalent of 8 normal SMS messages. Normal SMS messages uses the signalling channel to send and receive SMS, thats the reason why sometimes SMS networks gets jammed and messages gets lost. But broadcast messages have a dedicated channel of their own and they in no way add any load to the existing network.

Advantages

• Location sensitive
• Fast and efficient message delivery
• No additional network traffic
• Real time communication (less than 5 sec delivery time)
• Support binary messages (ringtones, logos, OTA configurations)
• No storage required
• No need to know the telephone numbers of the mobiles

Some services powered using cell broadcast technology

• Some arab countries send prayer timings as broadcast messages to its citizens
• Send out stock quotes
• Mobile Marketing
• Railway information service
• Traffic alerts
• Announcements at large events
• Emergency notification

The future

Right now only text and binary messages can be broadcasted. But as 3G phone become more and more popular 3G broadcast services will be available. Streaming audio and video will be available on broadcast channels. Those kind of technologies will ensure that a mobile user has access to all the radio and TV channels on his mobile phone itself.Similar Posts:

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