Mobile telephone with receive only mode

Abstract

A mobile telephone network is configured to transmit information, such as TV network scheduling, which can be received by receivers “eavesdropping” on the system. A mobile telephone can be configured to receive only, avoiding the battery drain which results from its transceiver needing to periodically handshake with the network transceiver.

1 . A mobile terminal for accessing broadcast information intended for a plurality of users in a cellular communications network, the terminal being operable to receive the broadcast information without connecting to the network.  
     
     
         2 . A mobile terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein the information is broadcast in a plurality of cells in the network.  
     
     
         3 . A mobile terminal according to  claim 1  or  2 , the terminal being operable in first and second modes, the first mode comprising a transceiver mode in which the terminal is operable to establish a bi-directional connection to the network and the second mode comprising an eavesdropping mode in which the terminal is operable to receive the broadcast information without connecting to the network.  
     
     
         4 . A mobile terminal according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the broadcast information comprises one or more items selected from programme schedules, commodity prices and gambling odds.  
     
     
         5 . A method of transmitting information to a plurality of users over a bidirectional cellular communication network which network comprises a plurality of geographically dispersed transceiving stations, the method comprising: 
 receiving digital data representing the information; and transmitting the digital data from at least two of the geographically dispersed transceivers.    
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the step of transmitting the digital data from the at least two geographically dispersed transceiving stations occurs substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 5  or  claim 6 , wherein the information is transmitted to a virtual subscriber which corresponds to the plurality of users.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 5  to  7 , wherein the step of transmitting the digital data is performed when capacity at each of the plurality of geographically dispersed transceiving stations is otherwise under utilised.  
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 5  to  8 , wherein the cellular communications network comprises a packet-mode network and the digital data is transmitted as one or more packets.  
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 5  to  9 , wherein the cellular communication network is a circuit-mode network and the digital data is transmitted over a circuit of the network.  
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 5  to  10 , wherein the step of transmitting the digital data is performed at a time dependent upon an external event.  
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the information comprises programme schedules for a broadcast network.  
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the information comprises dynamically-changing prices.  
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the information comprises odds for gambling on the outcome of a future event.  
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 5  to  14 , wherein the transmission of an item of digital data from the geographically dispersed transceivers is repeated at least once.  
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 5  to  15 , wherein the information comprises visual information for display on a user's receiving apparatus.  
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 5  to  16 , wherein the digital data is encoded.  
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in any one of  claims 5  to  17 , wherein the digital data identifies a separate channel over which further information may be received.  
     
     
         19 . A transceiver for use with a cellular communications network which network comprises one or more transceiving stations, the transceiver comprising means for, 
 in a first mode, registering with the or a transceiving station and for responding to communications destined for the transceiver; and    in a second mode, means for operating receiver circuitry only.    
     
     
         20 . A transceiver as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising means for, in a third mode, deactivating both transmission circuitry and receiver circuitry.  
     
     
         21 . A transceiver as claimed in claims  19  or  20 , wherein the transceiver is a portable transceiver.  
     
     
         22 . A transceiver as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the transceiver comprises a cellular telephone.  
     
     
         23 . A receiver for use with a communication network which network comprises a one or more transceiving stations, the receiver comprising means for monitoring at least a control channel of signals transmitted from the or a transceiving station; and receiving digital data in response to a predetermined signal on the control channel.  
     
     
         24 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the receiver comprises a transceiver constructed for use as a cellular telephone and comprising a disabled transmitter.  
     
     
         25 . A transceiver as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the transmitter is disabled by modifications to software.  
     
     
         26 . A receiver as claimed in claims  24  or  25 , wherein the transmitter is disabled through hardware modifications.  
     
     
         27 . A receiver as claimed in any one of  claims 23  to  26 , wherein the receiver is arranged to monitor a control channel corresponding to a virtual user identification.  
     
     
         28 . A method of modifying a transceiver manufactured for use in a cellular telephone, the method comprising: 
 permanently disabling the transmitter portion of the transceiver circuit.    
     
     
         29 . A transceiving station for a cellular communications network, the transceiving station comprising: 
 means for transmitting digital data on a virtual channel to a plurality of users.    
     
     
         30 . A cellular communications network comprising a plurality of transceiving stations, each transceiving station comprising: 
 means for transmitting digital data on a virtual channel to a plurality of users.    
     
     
         31 . A transceiving station for a cellular communications network as claimed in  claim 29  or a cellular communications network as claimed in  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 means for synchronising the transmission of the digital data with external events.