SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH A SET-TOP BOX

• US 20100319021A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lando, David C., Lafreniere, Gary W., Emerson, David E., Goergen, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,584,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/33
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/52 of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A system and method for sending an emergency communication from a set-top box. A user and location of the user is associated with the set-top box. An indicator of an emergency is received through the set-top box. The user and the location associated with the set-top box are determined in response to receiving the indicator. A database returns the user and the location utilizing an identifier of the set-top box. An emergency communication is sent indicating the location through a media network in communication with the set-top box.

Claims

1. A method for sending an emergency communication from a set-top box, the method comprising:

associating a user and location of the user with the set-top box;

receiving an indicator of an emergency through the set-top box;

determining the user and the location associated with the set-top box in response to receiving the indicator, wherein a database returns the user and the location utilizing an identifier of the set-top box; and

sending an emergency communication indicating the location through a media network in communication with the set-top box.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing the emergency communication to an emergency service provider associated with the location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating is performed during installation or maintenance of a service associated with the set-top box.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is performed utilizing a query to return the user and the location associated with the database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating, receiving, determining, and sending are performed by the set-top box.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating, receiving, determining, and sending are performed by a communications management system managing the media network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is received through a graphical user interface displayed to the user by the set-top box.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a user selection of a channel associated with emergency communications.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating is performed utilizing an identifier of the set-top box.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the set-top box sends the emergency communication through a satellite transceiver in communication with the set-top box.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input from the user providing information about the emergency; and

displaying a menu with information for addressing the emergency in response to the input.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency is determined by one or more sensors in the set-top box, wherein the one or more sensors include any of a smoke detector, accelerometers, a water detector, and/or carbon monoxide detector.

13. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

generating an emergency message at the communication managements system, the emergency message being routed to an emergency service provider in response to receiving the emergency communication and performing the associating.

14. A emergency communication system, the system comprising:

one or more media networks operable to communicate an emergency communication;

a set-top box operable to communicate with the one or more media networks, the set-top box being operable to communicate media content to a display for display to a user, receive an indicator of an emergency from a user, and generate the emergency communication and send the emergency communication through the one or more media networks; and

a communications management system in communication with the set-top box through the media network, the communications management system being operable to receive the emergency communication from the user, add user information and location information associated with the set-top box to the emergency communication, and send the emergency communication to an emergency service provider associated with a location of the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communications management system adds the user information and location information utilizing an identifier of the set-top box in response to determining the user information and location information is not included in the emergency communication when received.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the communications management system includes a database for associating the identifier with the user information and the location information.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the indicator is received by the set-top box in response to the user tuning the set-top box to a channel associated with emergency communications, wherein a user interface displayed by the set-top box receives user input indicating a nature of the emergency and displays a menu and information to assist the user in dealing with the emergency.

20. The set-top box according to claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors in communication with the emergency logic, the plurality of sensors being operable to detect a fire, excessive water, or toxic gas

21. The set-top box according to claim 17, wherein a communications management system in communication with the set-top box through the one or more media networks is operable to verify the user information and the location information, wherein the location information indicates driving directions and instructions for accessing a location of service of the set-top box.

18. A set-top box for sending emergency communications comprising:

a user interface operable to receive user input indicating an emergency;

emergency logic in communication with the user interface, the emergency logic being operable to determine user information and location information associated with the set-top box and generate an emergency communication indicating the location and the emergency; and

a transceiver in communication with the emergency logic, the transceiver being operable to send the emergency communication to one or more media networks for routing to an emergency service provider serving a location of the user.

19. The set-top box according to claim 18, further comprising:

a database in communication with the user interface, the display being operable to display information for addressing the emergency including one or more nested menus.