EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM

• US 20100218210A1
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Restoren Partners
• Original Assignee: XCast Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Smelyansky, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US12/710,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20100218210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5315 where the non-audio components are still images or video still image mailbox systems H04N1/324, intermediate storage of video signals for videophones H04N7/147
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/816 involving special video data, e.g 3D video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for emergency broadcasting to telephones or audio and/or video-enabled devices from a server system provide more timely emergency notification and more effective coverage for such emergency notifications than existing systems. A method for broadcasting at least one message to end user devices may comprise determining at least one group including a plurality of end user devices to which to broadcast the at least one message, based on programmable criteria related to each end user device and independently of a private branch exchange, central office, or other physical connection of each end user device, and transmitting the at least one message to each end user device of the group of end user devices.

Claims

1. A method for broadcasting at least one message to end user devices comprising:

determining at least one group including a plurality of end user devices to which to broadcast the at least one message, based on programmable criteria related to each end user device and independently of a private branch exchange, central office, or other physical connection of each end user device; and

transmitting the at least one message to each end user device of the group of end user devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each end user device of the group of end user devices is configured to automatically receive the message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each end user device of the group of end user devices is configured to automatically play the message to an end user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one message is transmitted from a central server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises the step of:

automatically determining the at least one group of end user devices based on at least one of a geographic location of an end user device, a political location of an end user device, a physical location of an end user device, and a type or content of the at least one message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one message is transmitted using Session Initiation Protocol.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the end user devices include at least one of a hardware telephone, a software telephone, and a computer system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least some end user devices of the group of end user devices are configured to automatically receive the message and play the message to an end user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the configured end user devices are configured using a SIP INVITE message.

10. A computer program product for broadcasting at least one message to end user devices comprising a computer readable storage medium and computer program instructions, recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor, for performing the steps of:

determining at least one group including a plurality of end user devices to which to broadcast the at least one message, based on programmable criteria related to each end user device and independently of a private branch exchange, central office, or other physical connection of each end user device; and

transmitting the at least one message to each end user device of the group of end user devices.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein each end user device of the group of end user devices is configured to automatically receive the message.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein each end user device of the group of end user devices is configured to automatically play the message to an end user.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the at least one message is transmitted from a central server.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the determining step comprises the step of:

automatically determining the at least one group of end user devices based on at least one of a geographic location of an end user device, a political location of an end user device, a physical location of an end user device, and a type or content of the at least one message.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the at least one message is transmitted using Session Initiation Protocol.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the end user devices include at least one of a hardware telephone, a software telephone, and a computer system.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein at least some end user devices of the group of end user devices are configured to automatically receive the message and play the message to an end user.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the configured end user devices are configured using a SIP INVITE message.

19. A system for broadcasting at least one message to end user devices comprising a processor operable to execute computer program instructions, a memory operable to store computer program instructions executable by the processor, and computer program instructions stored in the memory and executable to perform the steps of:

determining at least one group including a plurality of end user devices to which to broadcast the at least one message, based on programmable criteria related to each end user device and independently of a private branch exchange, central office, or other physical connection of each end user device; and

transmitting the at least one message to each end user device of the group of end user devices.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each end user device of the group of end user devices is configured to automatically receive the message.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein each end user device of the group of end user devices is configured to automatically play the message to an end user.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one message is transmitted from a central server.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the determining step comprises the step of:

automatically determining the at least one group of end user devices based on at least one of a geographic location of an end user device, a political location of an end user device, a physical location of an end user device, and a type or content of the at least one message.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one message is transmitted using Session Initiation Protocol.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the end user devices include at least one of a hardware telephone, a software telephone, and a computer system.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein at least some end user devices of the group of end user devices are configured to automatically receive the message and play the message to an end user.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the configured end user devices are configured using a SIP INVITE message.