Systems And Methods For Activating A Security System Upon Receipt Of Emergency Alert Messages

• US 20090247110A1
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sennett, DeWayne Allan, Daly, Brian Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,526,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 Wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

An Emergency Alert System (EAS) alert message may be used to activate a security system. For example, a mobile device of a subscriber may receive an EAS alert message from a network provider of the mobile device. Upon receipt of the EAS alert message, the mobile device may send an indication of the EAS message to the security system. A component of the security system may be activated to provide notification of the EAS alert message to the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method of notifying a subscriber of an emergency using a security system in operative communication with a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the mobile device, a broadcasted alert message; and

activating, via the mobile device, the security system upon receiving the broadcasted alert message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the security system comprises activating a component associated with the security system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the component comprises at least one of the following:

an alarm component, an intercom component, and a light component.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the component associated with the security system comprises providing an activation indication of the broadcasted alert message to the component, wherein the activation indication activates the component.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the component associated with the security system comprises providing the broadcasted alert message to the component, wherein the component renders the broadcasted alert message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether mobile device is configured to render the message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mobile devices activates the security system if, based on the determination, the mobile devices is not configured to render the broadcasted alert message.

8. A mobile device for activating a security system, the mobile device comprising:

a communication component for providing communication between the mobile device, a network provider, and a security system;

a processor in operative communication with the communication component, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive, via the communication component, a broadcasted alert message from the network provider; and

provide, via the communication component, a notification of the broadcasted alert message to the security system if the mobile device is incapable of rendering the broadcasted alert message from the network provider, wherein the security system is activated upon receipt of the notification.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether a component of the mobile device is incapable of rendering the broadcasted alert message received from the network provider, and wherein the notification of the broadcasted alert message is provided, via the communication component, to the security system if, based on the determination, the component of the mobile device is incapable of rendering the broadcasted alert message.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the component comprises at least one of the following:

a speaker, a display, and a light.

11. The mobile device of claim 8, further comprising a storage module in communication with the processor, wherein the storage module comprises a configuration stored therein, wherein the configuration indicates one or more alert messages the mobile device is capable of rendering.

12. The mobile device in of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the mobile device is incapable of rendering the broadcasted alert message received from the network provider by comparing a broadcast message type of the broadcasted alert message with the alert message types in the configuration.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the notification of the broadcasted alert message is provided, via the communication component, to the security system if, based on the comparison, the broadcast message type corresponds to one of the alert message types in the configuration.

14. The mobile device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the mobile device further comprises a characteristic.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of the following:

a current time and a location.

16. The mobile device in of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the mobile device is incapable of rendering the broadcasted alert message received from the network provider by comparing the characteristic with a characteristic value stored in the storage module.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the notification of the broadcasted alert message is provided, via the communication component, to the security system if, based on the comparison, the characteristic corresponds to the characteristic value.

18. A method of activating a security system, the method comprising:

receiving an emergency alert message from an emergency alert broadcaster;

determining whether a communication session is established with a device upon receipt of the emergency alert message;

activating the security system if, based on the determination, the communication session is not established with the device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein activating the security system comprises activating a component associated with the security system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the component comprises at least one of the following:

an alarm component, an intercom component, and a light component.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the component associated with the security system comprises providing an activation indication of the emergency alert message to the component, wherein the activation indication activates the component.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein activating the component associated with the security system comprises providing the emergency alert message to the component, wherein the component renders the broadcasted alert message.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

determining whether the emergency alert message corresponds to an elected message type; and

activating the security system if, based on the determination, the emergency alert message corresponds to the elected message type.

24. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

determining whether a characteristic corresponds to a characteristic value; and

activating the security system if, based on the determination, the characteristic corresponds to the characteristic value.

25. The mobile device of claim 24, wherein the characteristic comprises at least one of the following:

a current time and a location.