Wireless device with integrated emergency alert notification

• US 20050159132A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rivers, Paul Brent, Wright, Darrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area

Abstract

A telecommunications device for use by a telecommunications user is disclosed. The telecommunications device includes a housing having located therein a wireless telephone for receiving an incoming call and a receiver unit for receiving an emergency alert broadcast. The wireless telephone includes a first receiver and a processor in communication therewith, and the receiver unit includes a second receiver in communication with the processor of the wireless telephone.

Claims

1. A telecommunications device for use by a telecommunications user, comprising:

a housing;

a wireless telephone located in the housing for receiving an incoming call and having a first receiver and a processor in communication therewith; and

a receiver unit located in the housing and having a second receiver for receiving an emergency alert broadcast, wherein the receiver unit is in communication with the processor of the wireless telephone.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first receiver includes a RF transceiver unit.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second receiver includes a NWR weather receiver configured to receive NWR-SAME emergency alert broadcasts.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the NWR weather receiver is further configured to receive standard FM and AM broadcasts.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the second receiver includes a digital receiver.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a digital signal processor.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a microcontroller.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the receiver unit includes a first processing module for extracting coded information contained in the emergency alert broadcast and the microcontroller is for providing an emergency alert notification to the telecommunications user based upon the extracted coded information.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the emergency alert notification includes an emergency alert message, the emergency alert message including at least a portion of the extracted coded information.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the emergency alert message is selected from the group consisting of an audible emergency alert message, a visual emergency alert message, and an audio-visual emergency alert message.

11. A method of providing an emergency alert notification to a user of a telecommunications device in response to receiving an emergency alert broadcast, the telecommunications device including a housing having located therein a wireless telephone for receiving an incoming call and a receiver unit for receiving the emergency alert broadcast, the method comprising:

receiving the emergency alert broadcast from an emergency alert transmitter;

extracting coded information contained in emergency alert broadcast; and

providing an emergency alert notification to the user of the telecommunications device based upon the extracted coded information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the emergency alert notification to the user of the telecommunications device based upon the extracted coded information includes comparing the extracted coded information to predetermined information stored in the telecommunications device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the emergency alert notification to the user of the telecommunications device based upon the extracted coded information includes providing the emergency alert notification to the user periodically at a predetermined time interval for a duration of time based upon the extracted coded information.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the emergency alert notification to the user of the telecommunications device based upon the extracted coded information includes providing an emergency alert message to the user of the telecommunications device, the emergency alert message including at least a portion of the extracted coded information.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating one or more interface resources of the telecommunications device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein providing the emergency alert notification to the user of the telecommunications device based upon the extracted coded information includes providing the emergency alert notification simultaneously with a call in progress.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising suspending the call in progress in response to a first acknowledgement of the emergency alert notification by the user of the telecommunications device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising resuming the call in progress in response to a second acknowledgement of the emergency alert notification by the user of the telecommunications device.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a recommended course of action to the user of the telecommunications device based upon the extracted coded information.

20. A telecommunications device for providing an emergency alert notification to a user of the telecommunications device in response to receiving an emergency alert broadcast, the telecommunications device comprising:

means for receiving the emergency alert broadcast from an emergency alert transmitter;

means for extracting coded information contained in the emergency alert broadcast; and

means for providing an emergency alert notification to the user of the telecommunications device based upon the extracted coded information.