Method and apparatus for providing localized information to a communication device in a wide area communication system

In a wide area communication system that includes a plurality of broadcast transmission sites and a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of broadcast transmission sites providing broadcast services to the plurality of communication devices throughout the wide area communication system, a method for a communication device to obtain localized information broadcast to communication devices located in a local coverage area of a plurality of local coverage areas within the wide area communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, during a first time interval, a first signal including a first localized information, the first localized information relating to a first local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas;
• storing the first localized information in a first memory location of the communication device;
• receiving, during a second time interval, a second signal including a second localized information, the second localized information relating to a second local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas;
• and
• storing the second localized information in the first memory location of the communication device, such that the second localized information replaces al least a portion of the first localized information.

In a wide area communication system that includes a plurality of broadcast transmission sites and a plurality of communication devices, the plurality of broadcast transmission sites providing broadcast services to the plurality of communication devices throughout the wide area communication system, a method for a communication device to retain localized information broadcast to communication devices located in a local coverage area of a plurality of local coverage areas within the wide area communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first signal including a first broadcast address and a first localized information, wherein the first broadcast address corresponds to a first local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas and wherein the first localized information relates to the first local coverage area;
• storing the first localized information in a first memory location of the communication device;
• receiving a second signal including a second broadcast address and a second localized information, wherein the second broadcast address corresponds to a second local coverage area of the plurality of local coverage areas and wherein the second localized information relates to the second local coverage area;
• and
• storing the second localized information in the first memory location, such that the second localized information replaces at least a portion of the first localized information.

A communication device for use in a wide area communication system, the communication device comprising:

• a device receiver for receiving, during a first dine interval, a first localized information and, during a second time interval, a second localized information, the first localized information and the second localized information each relating to a respective geographic region of the wide area communication system;
• a memory that includes a plurality of memory locations;
• and
• a processor, operably coupled to the memory and the device receiver, for instructing the memory to store the first localized in Formation in a first memory location of the plurality of memory locations upon receipt of the first localized information and for instructing the memory to store the second localized information in the first memory location upon receipt of the second localized information, such that the second localized information replaces at least a portion of the first localized information.

A broadcast transmission site for providing information from at least one information source to a plurality of communication devices located within a geographic coverage area serviced by the broadcast transmission site, the broadcast transmission site comprising:

• a transmitter;
• an input interface for receiving, from the at least one information source, information to be transmitted by the transmitter;
• and
• a controller, operably coupled to the transmitter and the input interface, for instructing the transmitter to transmit, during a first time interval, a first signal including a localized information relating to the geographic coverage area that is intended for receipt by the plurality of communication devices located within the geographic coverage area and for instructing the transmitter to transmit, during a second time interval, a second signal including am individualized information that is intended for receipt by less than all of the plurality of communication devices regardless of the location relative to the geographic coverage area of the less than all of the plurality of communication devices intended to receive the individualized information.