Set-Top Box Emergency Alert System Alarm

• US 20090064220A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fan, James, Lam, Jennifer K.
• Application Number:
  US11/847,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20090064220A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/33
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A customer premises device includes a receiving module, a visual module, and an audible module. The receiving module is configured to receive an Internet protocol emergency alert system message. The visual module is in communication with the receiving module, and the visual module is configured to provide a visual alarm based on the Internet protocol emergency alert system message. The audible module is in communication with the receiving module, and the audible module is configured to provide an audible alarm based on the Internet protocol emergency alert system message. A method for outputting the visual and audible alarms is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A customer premises device comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive an Internet protocol emergency alert system message;

a visual module in communication with the receiving module, the visual module configured to provide a visual alarm based on the Internet protocol emergency alert system message; and

an audible module in communication with the receiving module, the audible module configured to provide an audible alarm based on the Internet protocol emergency alert system message.

2. The customer premises device of claim 1 further comprising a control module in communication with the audible module, the control module configured to receive a control signal from a user.

3. The customer premises device of claim 2 wherein the audible module is further configured to deactivate the audible alarm in response to the control module receiving the control signal.

4. The customer premises device of claim 2 wherein the visual module is further configured to deactivate the visual alarm in response to the control module receiving the control signal.

5. The customer premises device of claim 1 further comprising an output module in communication with the receiving module, the output module configured to transmit the Internet protocol emergency alert message to an alarm device remote from the customer premises device.

6. The customer premises device of claim 5 wherein the alarm device is configured to output a visual alarm and an audible alarm in response to the emergency alert system message.

7. The customer premises device of claim 1 wherein the customer premises device is a set-top box.

8. A method comprising:

receiving an Internet protocol emergency alert system message;

outputting a visual alarm in response to the Internet protocol emergency alert system message; and

outputting an audible alarm in response to the Internet protocol emergency alert system message.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising silencing the audible alarm in response to receiving a control signal from a user.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a personal identification number is required to silence the audible alarm.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising ending the visual alarm in response to receiving a control signal from a user.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein a personal identification number is required to end the visual alarm.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising outputting the Internet protocol emergency alert system message to an external alarm device.

14. A computer readable medium including a plurality of instructions to manipulate a processor, the plurality of instructions including:

instructions to generate a visual alert based on an Internet protocol emergency alert system message; and

instructions to generate an audible alert to the user based on an Internet protocol emergency alert system message.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising instructions to receive a control signal from the user in response to the emergency alert system message.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions to silence the audible alert in response to the control module receiving the control signal.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions to end the visual alert in response to the control module receiving the control signal.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14 further comprising instructions to transmit the emergency alert message to an external alarm device.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the external alarm device is configured to output a visual alarm in response to the emergency alert system message.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the external device is configured to output an audible alarm in response to the emergency alert system message.