System and method to distribute emergency information

• US 20070207771A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bowser, Robert, Theobold, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network

Abstract

A system and method that enables efficient distribution of public warning information using a network infrastructure. Public warning messages are received by a wireless receiver coupled to a network. The wireless receiver broadcasts a message to users on the network responsive to receiving a public warning message.

Claims

1. An apparatus for distributing emergency information, comprising:

a wireless receiver;

a network transceiver; and

a controller operatively coupled to the wireless receiver and network transceiver;

wherein the controller is responsive to the wireless receiver receiving a wireless broadcast of an emergency transmission to trigger a broadcast comprising a message based on the emergency transmission on the network transceiver.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiver receives multiple frequencies.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises a digital code indicative of the type of alert.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the message comprises an audio component.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a translation module operatively coupled to the controller, the translation module operative to translate the message from a first language to a second language.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the message is configured in one of the group consisting of the first language, second language and both the first language and the second language.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lookup table for ascertaining a policy for responding to the emergency transmission, the message further comprising the policy for responding to the emergency transmission.

8. An apparatus for distributing emergency information, comprising:

means for receiving a wireless emergency transmission;

means for sending messages on a network transceiver; and

means for controlling operation the apparatus operatively coupled to the means for receiving and means for sending;

wherein the means for controlling is responsive to the means for receiving a wireless emergency transmission receiving a wireless broadcast of an emergency transmission to trigger a broadcast comprising a message based on the emergency transmission on means for sending.

9. A system for distributing emergency information, comprising:

a wireless receiver;

a computing device; and

a network coupling the wireless transceiver to the computing device;

wherein the wireless transceiver is responsive to receiving a wireless broadcast of an emergency transmission to broadcast a message via the network to the computing device; and

wherein the message contains data based on the emergency transmission.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the receiver receives multiple frequencies.

11. A system according to claim 9, further comprising:

the computing device further comprises a display device; and

wherein the computing device is responsive to receiving the message to display a warning on the display device based on the data in the message.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the computing device is further configured to wait a predetermined time for a message from the receiver, the computing device responsive to not receiving the message within the predetermined time to display a warning message on the display device that contact has been lost with the receiver.

13. A system according to claim 9, further comprising a translation module, wherein the translation module translates the message from a first language to a second language.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the computing device displays the warning in one of the group consisting of the first language, second language and both the first language and the second language.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the translation module is located at one of the group consisting of the receiver and the computing device.

16. A system according to claim 9, wherein the message comprises a digital code indicative of the type of alert.

17. A system according to claim 9, wherein the message comprises an audio component.

18. A system according to claim 9, further comprising a lookup table for ascertaining a policy for responding to the emergency transmission, the message further comprising the policy for responding to the emergency transmission.

19. A method for distributing emergency information, comprising:

receiving a wireless emergency transmission;

broadcasting a message responsive to the emergency transmission on a network coupled to a computing device.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the message comprises one of the group consisting of a digital code indicative of the type of alert and an audio component.

21. A method according to claim 19 further comprising translating the emergency transmission from a first language to a second language, wherein the message is broadcast in one of the group consisting of the first language, the second language and the first language and second language.

22. A method according to claim 19, further comprising determining a policy for responding to the emergency transmission, the message further comprising the policy for responding to the emergency transmission.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein the emergency transmission is a Public Alert message.