Television signal receiver capable of receiving emergency alert signals

• US 20050166221A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Pugel, Michael Anthony, Bridge, Michael Alan, Ecoff, Clint Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/33
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8146 involving graphical data, e.g. 3D object, 2D graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/505 Invisible or silent tuning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A television signal processing apparatus is capable of receiving emergency alert signals and providing alert outputs to notify individuals of emergency events. According to one exemplary embodiment, the television signal processing apparatus includes a tuner (22) operative to tune a frequency including emergency alert signals indicating an emergency event. A processor (27) is operative to cause the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from an off/standby mode to an on mode responsive to the emergency alert signals.

Claims

1. Television signal processing apparatus comprising:

a first tuner operative to tune a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event while the television signal processing apparatus is in a first mode;

a second tuner operative to tune a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event while the television signal processing apparatus is in a second mode; and

a processor operative to cause the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from the first mode to the second mode responsive to the signal indicating an emergency event for providing an emergency alert function.

2. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mode corresponds to an off/standby mode and the second mode corresponds to an “

on”

mode and wherein the processor causes the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode in response to the emergency event corresponding to a predetermined event selectable by a user.

3. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mode corresponds to an off/standby mode and the second mode corresponds to an “

on”

mode and wherein the processor causes the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode in response to the emergency event corresponding to a geographical area selectable by a user.

4. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to enable an alert output responsive to the signal indicating an emergency event.

5. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor enables the alert output in response to the emergency event corresponding to a predetermined event selectable by a user.

6. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor enables the alert output in response to the emergency event corresponding to a geographical area selectable by a user.

7. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor enables the alert output responsive to a user selection.

8. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a speaker, and wherein the alert output comprises an aural message provided via the speaker.

9. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a display, and wherein the alert output comprises a visual message provided via the display.

10. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor enables the alert output for a first predetermined time period selectable by a user.

11. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first mode corresponds to an off/standby mode and the second mode corresponds to an “

on”

mode and wherein the processor causes the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from the on mode to the off/standby mode in response to the alert output being provided for the first predetermined time period.

12. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor disables the emergency alert function for a repeat emergency event for a second predetermined time period selectable by a user in response to the television signal processing apparatus being switched from the on mode to the off/standby mode.

13. A television signal receiver having an emergency alert function, comprising:

first tuning means for tuning a frequency including emergency alert signals indicating an emergency event while the television signal receiver is in an off/standby mode;

second tuning means for tuning a frequency including emergency alert signals indicating an emergency event while the television signal receiver is in an on mode; and

processing means for causing the television signal receiver to be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode responsive to the emergency alert signals.

14. The television signal receiver of claim 13, wherein the processing means causes the television signal receiver to be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode when the emergency event indicated by the emergency alert signals corresponds to a predetermined event selectable by a user.

15. The television signal receiver of claim 13, wherein the processing means causes the television signal receiver to be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode when the emergency event indicated by the emergency alert signals corresponds to a geographical area selectable by a user.

16. The television signal receiver of claim 13, wherein the processing means further enables an alert output responsive to the emergency alert signals.

17. The television signal receiver of claim 16, wherein the processing means enables the alert output when the emergency event indicated by the emergency alert signals corresponds to a predetermined event selectable by a user.

18. The television signal receiver of claim 16, wherein the processing means enables the alert output when the emergency event indicated by the emergency alert signals corresponds to a geographical area selectable by a user.

19. The television signal receiver of claim 16, wherein the processing means enables the alert output responsive to a user selection.

20. The television signal receiver of claim 16, further comprising audio output means for providing the alert output as an aural message.

21. The television signal receiver of claim 16, further comprising display means for providing the alert output as a visual message.

22. The television signal receiver of claim 16, wherein the processing means enables the alert output for a first predetermined time period selectable by a user.

23. The television signal receiver of claim 22, wherein the processing means causes the television signal receiver to be switched from the on mode to the off/standby mode after the alert output is provided for the first predetermined time period.

24. The television signal receiver of claim 23, wherein the processing means disables the emergency alert function for a repeat emergency event for a second predetermined time period selectable by a user after the television signal receiver is switched from the on mode to the off/standby mode.

25. Television signal processing apparatus comprising:

first tuning means for tuning a first frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event while the television signal processing apparatus is in a first mode;

second tuning means for tuning a second frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event while the television signal processing apparatus is in a second mode; and

processing means for enabling an alert output responsive to the signal indicating an emergency event for providing an emergency alert function.

26. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first and second frequencies are the same.

27. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first and second frequencies are different.

28. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the processing means enables the alert output in response to the emergency event corresponding to a predetermined event selectable by a user.

29. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the processing means enables the alert output in response to the emergency event corresponding to a geographical area selectable by a user.

30. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the processing means enables the alert output for a first predetermined time period selectable by a user.

31. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first mode corresponds to an off/standby mode and the second mode corresponds to an on mode and wherein the processing means causes the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from the on mode to the off/standby mode after the alert output is provided for the first predetermined time period.

32. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 31, wherein the processing means disables the emergency alert function for a repeat emergency event for a second predetermined time period selectable by a user in response to the television signal processing apparatus being switched from the on mode to the off/standby mode.

33. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first mode corresponds to an off/standby mode and the second mode corresponds to an on mode and wherein the processing means further causes the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode responsive to the signal indicating an emergency event.

34. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processing means causes the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode in response to the emergency event corresponding to a predetermined event selectable by a user.

35. The television signal processing apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processing means causes the television signal processing apparatus to be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode in response to the emergency event corresponding to a geographical area selectable by a user.

36. A method for controlling a television signal processing apparatus having an emergency alert function, comprising:

using a first tuner of the television signal processing apparatus to tune a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event while the television signal processing apparatus is in an off/standby mode;

using a second tuner (of the television signal processing apparatus to tune a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event while the television signal processing apparatus is in an on mode; and

switching the television signal processing apparatus from the off/standby mode to the on mode responsive to the signal indicating the emergency event.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprised of enabling an alert output responsive to the signal indicating an emergency event.