MULTI-MODE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY ALERTS

• US 20090247111A1
• 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 8,825,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• 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

Systems and methods are provided for sending emergency alerts to mobile devices in a geographical region affected by an emergency condition. An emergency alert may be broadcast via cellular network to devices with active cellular communications, while those mobile devices comprising cellular communications components that are temporarily inoperative due to their connection to wireless internet access points can be reached by sending emergency alerts via the internet.

Claims

1. A method for sending emergency alerts to mobile devices, comprising:

broadcasting via cellular network a Short Message Service (SMS) emergency alert to a first plurality of mobile devices in a geographical region;

identifying a second plurality of mobile devices that are wirelessly connected to Wi-Fi access points in said geographical region, wherein said second plurality of mobile devices comprise cellular communications components that are temporarily inoperative due to said second plurality of mobile devices'"'"' connection to said Wi-Fi access points; and

sending said SMS emergency alert to said second plurality of mobile devices using Internet Protocol (IP) communications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second plurality of mobile devices are subscribers to a same mobile communications service provider, and wherein said service provider performs said broadcasting, identifying, and sending.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying all Wi-Fi access points in said geographical region.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said identifying comprises determining mobile devices that are connected to any of said all Wi-Fi access points in said geographical region.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising maintaining a list comprising Wi-Fi access points and locations of said Wi-Fi access points, for use in identifying all Wi-Fi access points in a given geographical region.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending said SMS emergency alert to at least one additional mobile device in said geographical region using IP communications.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving said SMS emergency alert from a government Emergency Alert System (EAS).

8. A method for sending emergency alerts to mobile devices, comprising:

identifying a plurality Wi-Fi access points in a geographical region affected by an emergency condition; and

sending, using Internet Protocol (IP) communications, a Short Message Service (SMS) emergency alert to a plurality of mobile devices connected to said plurality of Wi-Fi access points, wherein said plurality of mobile devices comprise cellular communications components that are temporarily inoperative due to said plurality of mobile devices'"'"' connection to said Wi-Fi access points.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising identifying said plurality of mobile devices by scanning for mobile devices connected to said plurality of Wi-Fi access points.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said sending comprises addressing said SMS emergency alert to each of said plurality of mobile devices.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said sending comprises addressing said SMS emergency alert to each of said plurality Wi-Fi access points, and wherein said Wi-Fi access points relay emergency alerts to any mobile devices communicating with said Wi-Fi access points.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising maintaining a list comprising Wi-Fi access points and locations of Wi-Fi access points, for use in identifying Wi-Fi access points in a given geographical region.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising broadcasting said emergency alert via cellular network in a geographical region.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving said SMS emergency alert from a government Emergency Alert System (EAS).

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said SMS emergency alert is accompanied by authentication information.

16. A Wi-Fi access point, comprising:

an internet interface for sending and receiving communications via Internet Protocol (IP);

an Short Message Service (SMS) emergency alert authentication component that authenticates an emergency alert received via said internet interface;

a wireless communications mechanism that sends and receives communications to and from mobile devices;

an emergency alert distribution component that distributes said SMS emergency alert to all mobile devices in communication with said Wi-Fi access point via said wireless communications mechanism.

17. The Wi-Fi access point of claim 16, wherein said Wi-Fi access point scans all communications received via said internet interface for an emergency alert identifier.

18. The Wi-Fi access point of claim 16, wherein said emergency alert authentication component authenticates said SMS emergency alert by matching a received emergency alert identifier with an identifier stored in said Wi-Fi access point.

19. The Wi-Fi access point of claim 16, wherein said SMS emergency alert distribution component injects said emergency alert into information sent to said mobile devices.