SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING ALERT NOTIFICATIONS

• US 20090134982A1
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alertus Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Alertus Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Robertson, Blake, Volk, Jason
• Application Number:
  US12/324,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20090134982A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/326
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency

Abstract

A system and method for providing an alert notification are disclosed. A computer-readable storage medium according to one embodiment has instructions for configuring an alert text, configuring at least one audible alert instruction, and configuring at least one visible alert instruction. The computer-readable storage medium also has instructions for constructing an alert notification, and delivering the alert notification to at least one intended recipient device. The alert notification message includes the alert text, the at least one audible alert instruction, and the at least one visible alert instruction.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium for providing an alert notification, comprising instructions for:

configuring an alert text;

configuring at least one audible alert instruction;

configuring at least one visible alert instruction;

constructing an alert notification, including;

the alert text;

the at least one audible alert instruction; and

the at least one visible alert instruction; and

sending the alert notification to at least one intended recipient device.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

sending the alert notification to the at least one intended recipient device includes broadcasting the alert notification to at least one potential recipient device; and

each of the at least one potential recipient device determines whether it is one of the at least one intended recipient device.

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

sending the alert notification to the at least one intended recipient device includes sending the alert notification to a potential recipient device based on a polling message received from the potential recipient device; and

the potential recipient device determines whether it is one of the at least one intended recipient device.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further including instructions for configuring an addressing instruction, wherein:

the addressing instruction indicates the at least one intended recipient device; and

the addressing instruction is included in the alert notification.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the at least one intended recipient device is indicated by any of an identifier of each of the at least one intended recipient device, an identifier of each of at least one group of the at least one intended recipient device, and a geographic region.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further including instructions for configuring an initial duration of the alert notification, wherein:

the at least one audible alert instruction includes a first audible alert instruction to be executed substantially during the initial duration and a second audible alert instruction to be executed substantially after the initial duration; and

the initial duration is included in the alert notification.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further including instructions for configuring an initial duration of the alert notification, wherein:

the at least one visible alert instruction includes a first visible alert instruction to be executed substantially during the initial duration and a second visible alert instruction to be executed substantially after the initial duration; and

the initial duration is included in the alert notification.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further including instructions for configuring a total duration of the alert notification, wherein the total duration is included in the alert notification.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the alert notification is sent via at least one of a wired network channel and a wireless network channel.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further including instructions for indicating activation of at least one peripheral device, wherein:

the indication of activation of the at least one peripheral device is included in the alert notification; and

the at least one peripheral device is communicatively coupled with the at least one intended recipient device.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further including instructions for indicating activation of at least one alert service.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the alert notification is sent to indicate at least one of an act of violence, an act of terrorism, a hazardous materials incident, severe weather, a mechanical failure, and a technological failure.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

the alert text includes at least one response guidance message; and

the response guidance message includes instructions for at least one of an evacuation, a lock down, a shelter-in-place of high elevation, and a shelter-in-place of low elevation.

14. An electronic method for providing an alert notification, comprising:

configuring an alert text;

configuring at least one audible alert instruction;

configuring at least one visible alert instruction;

constructing an alert notification, including;

the alert text;

the at least one audible alert instruction; and

the at least one visible alert instruction; and

sending the alert notification to at least one intended recipient device.

15. The electronic method of claim 14, wherein:

sending the alert notification to the at least one intended recipient device includes broadcasting the alert notification to at least one potential recipient device; and

each of the at least one potential recipient device determines whether it is one of the at least one intended recipient device.

16. The electronic method of claim 14, wherein:

sending the alert notification to the at least one intended recipient device includes sending the alert notification to a potential recipient device based on a polling message received from the potential recipient device; and

the potential recipient device determines whether it is one of the at least one intended recipient device.

17. The electronic method of claim 14, further including configuring an addressing instruction indicating the at least one intended recipient device, wherein the addressing instruction is included in the alert notification.

18. The electronic method of claim 17, wherein the at least one intended recipient device is indicated by at least one of an identifier of the at least one intended recipient device, an identifier of each of at least one group of the at least one intended recipient device, and a geographic region.

19. The electronic method of claim 14, further including configuring an initial duration of the alert notification, wherein:

the at least one audible alert instruction includes a first audible alert instruction to be executed substantially during the initial duration and a second audible alert instruction to be executed substantially after the initial duration; and

the initial duration is included in the alert notification.

20. The electronic method of claim 14, further including configuring an initial duration of the alert notification, wherein:

the at least one visible alert instruction includes a first visible alert instruction to be executed substantially during the initial duration and a second visible alert instruction to be executed substantially after the initial duration; and

the initial duration is included in the alert notification.

21. The electronic method of claim 14, further including configuring a total duration of the alert notification, wherein the total duration is included in the alert notification.

22. The electronic method of claim 14, further including indicating activation of at least one peripheral device, wherein:

the indication of activation of the at least one peripheral device is included in the alert notification; and

the at least one peripheral device is communicatively coupled with the at least one intended recipient device.

23. The electronic method of claim 14, further including indicating activation of at least one alert service.

24. The electronic method of claim 14, wherein the alert notification is sent to indicate at least one of an act of violence, an act of terrorism, a hazardous materials incident, severe weather, a mechanical failure, and a technological failure.

25. The electronic method of claim 14, wherein:

the alert text includes at least one response guidance message; and

the response guidance message includes instructions for at least one of an evacuation, a lock down, a shelter-in-place of high elevation, and a shelter-in-place of low elevation.

26. An electronic method, comprising sending an alert notification from an input device to a network, wherein the alert notification includes:

an alert text;

an addressing instruction indicating at least one intended recipient device of the alert notification;

a first audible alert instruction for the at least one intended recipient;

a second audible alert instruction for the at least one intended recipient;

a first visible alert instruction for the at least one intended recipient;

a second visible alert instruction for the at least one intended recipient;

a total duration of the alert notification; and

an initial duration of the alert notification, where the initial duration applies to at least the first audible alert instruction and the first visible alert instruction.