Apparatus, method and system for handoff of a mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system are provided for a handoff of a mobile broadcast of information specific to a geographic region. The mobile broadcast is typically transmitted on a first broadcast channel from a serving switching center and a serving transceiver to a mobile unit, such as to a cellular telephone. The preferred system includes a plurality of mobile switching centers coupled via signaling and trunk lines to a plurality of transceivers. The serving switching center selects a target switching center and transmits a handoff directive, the handoff directive including a broadcast parameter designating the mobile broadcast. In the preferred embodiment, the broadcast parameter is an eight bit designation of the broadcast channel, and may be included within a field of ANSI-compatible messages, such as Facilities Directives and Handoff Measurement Requests, and distinguishes the handoff of the information broadcast from other types of communication handoffs. The target switching center determines a second broadcast channel providing an information broadcast feature in a second geographic area served by the target switching center and a target transceiver. Via the serving transceiver, the serving switching center directs the mobile unit to the second broadcast channel.