Television signal receiver capable of receiving emergency alert signals

• US 20050229206A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Pugel, Michael Anthony, Kendall, Scott Allan, Virag, David Emery, Bridge, Michael Alan, Merrell, John Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/513,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20050229206A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/33
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• 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: H04H 60/52 of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/71 using meteorological information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• 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 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• 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 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

A television signal processing system having an emergency alert function 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 system includes a tuner operative to tune a frequency including emergency alert signals indicating an emergency event. A processor is operative to enable an alert output responsive to the emergency alert signals when the emergency event indicated by the emergency alert signals corresponds to a geographical area selectable by a user. According to another exemplary embodiment, the processor is operative to enable an alert output responsive to the emergency alert signals when the emergency event indicated by the emergency alert signals corresponds to a predetermined event selectable by a user.

Claims

1. A television signal processing system, comprising:

a tuner operative to tune a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event; and

a processor operative to enable an alert output responsive to the emergency event corresponding to a geographical area selectable by a user.

2. The television signal processing system of claim 1, wherein the alert output comprises an auxiliary information display.

3. The television signal processing system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary information display comprises a closed caption display.

4. The television signal processing system of claim 1, further comprising a display panel including at least one indicator element, and wherein the alert output comprises a visual display provided via the at least one indicator element.

5. The television signal processing system of claim 4, wherein the display panel comprises a plurality of indicator elements, and each indicator element exhibits a different color.

6. The television signal processing system of claim 1, wherein the processor enables the alert output for a first predetermined time period selectable by the user.

7. The television signal processing system of claim 1, wherein the alert output comprises a plurality of visual displays.

8. A television signal processor, comprising:

tuning means for tuning a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event; and

processing means for enabling an alert output responsive to the emergency event corresponding to a predetermined event selectable by a user for providing an emergency alert function.

9. The television signal processor of claim 8, wherein the alert output comprises an auxiliary information display.

10. The television signal processor of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary information display comprises a closed caption display.

11. The television signal processor of claim 8, further comprising display means including at least one indicator element, and wherein the alert output comprises a visual display provided via the at least one indicator element.

12. The television signal processor of claim 11, wherein the display means comprises a plurality of indicator elements, and each indicator element exhibits a different color.

13. The television signal processor of claim 8, wherein the processing means enables the alert output for a first predetermined time period selectable by the user.

14. The television signal processor of claim 8, wherein the alert output comprises a plurality of visual displays.

15. A method for controlling a television signal processing system, comprising:

tuning a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event; and

providing an alert output responsive to the emergency event corresponding to a geographical area and a predetermined event selectable by a user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the alert output comprises an auxiliary information display.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the auxiliary information display comprises a closed caption display.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the alert output is provided via at least one indicator element on a display panel of the television signal processing system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one indicator element exhibits a color to indicate the emergency event.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the alert output is provided for a first predetermined time period selectable by the user.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the alert output comprises a plurality of visual displays.