Apparatus and method for providing user selectable alert modes for a television signal receiver

• US 20050273809A1
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Kendall, Scott Allan, Johnston, Gavin Lee, Merrell, John Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/519,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273809A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/33
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• 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 21/4882 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 21/814 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 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 receiver (having an emergency alert function provides an alert output in accordance with a user selectable alert mode corresponding to the type of emergency event. According to an exemplary embodiment, the television signal receiver includes a tuner operative to tune a frequency including emergency alert signals indicating a type of emergency event. A processor is operative to enable an alert output responsive to the emergency alert signals, wherein the alert output is provided in accordance with a user selectable alert mode corresponding to the type of emergency event.

Claims

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

a tuner operative to tune a frequency including emergency alert signals indicating a type of emergency event; and

a processor operative to enable an alert output responsive to the emergency alert signals, wherein the alert output is provided in accordance with a user selectable alert mode corresponding to the type of emergency event.

2. The television signal receiver of claim 1, further comprising an interface operative to enable a user to turn the alert output on and off.

3. The television signal receiver of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to enable a plurality of alert outputs responsive to the emergency alert signals, and the plurality of alert outputs are provided in accordance with a plurality of user selectable alert modes corresponding to the type of emergency event.

4. The television signal receiver of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert outputs is a visual output.

5. The television signal receiver of claim 3, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert outputs is an aural output.

6. The television signal receiver of claim 3, further comprising an interface operative to enable a user to turn at least one of the plurality of alert outputs on and off.

7. The television signal receiver of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert outputs can not be completely turned off by a user.

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

tuning means for tuning a frequency including emergency alert signals indicating a type of emergency event; and

processing means for enabling an alert output responsive to the emergency alert signals, wherein the alert output is provided in accordance with a user selectable alert mode corresponding to the type of emergency event.

9. The television signal receiver of claim 8, further comprising interface means for enabling a user to turn the alert output on and off.

10. The television signal receiver of claim 8, wherein the processing means enables a plurality of alert outputs responsive to the emergency alert signals, and the plurality of alert outputs are provided in accordance with a plurality of user selectable alert modes corresponding to the type of emergency event.

11. The television signal receiver of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert outputs is a visual output.

12. The television signal receiver of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert outputs is an aural output.

13. The television signal receiver of claim 10, further comprising interface means for enabling a user to turn at least one of the plurality of alert outputs on and off.

14. The television signal receiver of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert outputs can not be completely turned off by a user.

15. A method for controlling a television signal receiver having an emergency alert function, comprising:

tuning a frequency including emergency alert signals indicating a type of emergency event; and

providing an alert output responsive to the emergency alert signals, wherein the alert output is provided in accordance with a user selectable alert mode corresponding to the type of emergency event.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprised of enabling a user to turn the alert output on and off.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprised of providing a plurality of alert outputs responsive to the emergency alert signals, and the plurality of alert outputs are provided in accordance with a plurality of user selectable alert modes corresponding to the type of emergency event.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert outputs is a visual output.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert outputs is an aural output.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprised of enabling a user to turn at least one of the plurality of alert outputs on and off.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert outputs can not be completely turned off by a user.