METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERSONAL ALERT

• US 20110298612A1
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Maurice W Karl
• Original Assignee: Maurice W Karl
• Inventors: Karl, Maurice W., Bryan, Joshua A.
• Application Number:
  US13/157,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20110298612A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• 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 72/30 Resource management for broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

An alert system and apparatus for an emergency alert system is provided to disseminate emergency information to the public utilizing a universal paging system through a personal alert device such as a cellular telephone, pager, PDA or E-FOB. The alert system utilizes an emergency alert system signal from an alert system to broadcast the alert message to cellular devices in a specified alert area. The broadcast message provides information related to the alert level. The personal alert device may be an active or passive device which is activated by an alert signal and then listens for a cellular message. If the personal alert device is within the alert area, the personal alert device provides information to the user

Claims

1. A personal alert device comprising:

an antenna for receiving a broadcast alert signal and a broadcast warning message;

a receiver coupled to said antenna for decoding said broadcast alert signal and said broadcast warning message;

a monitor circuit coupled to said receiver and responsive to said decoded alert signal to activate a microprocessor;

said microprocessor coupled to said receiver and responsive to said decoded broadcast warning message to activate LEDs, a text message and/or an audible alarm indicative of the broadcast warning message received.

2. The personal alert device of claim 1 wherein said broadcast alert signal is generated by NOAA.

3. The personal alert device of claim 1 wherein said broadcast alert signal is generated by FEMA.

4. The personal alert device of claim 1 wherein said broadcast alert signal is generated by a governmental agency.

5. The personal alert device of claim 1 wherein said broadcast alert signal is generated by an authorized third party.

6. The personal alert device of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor is activated for a predetermined period of time.

7. A personal alert device comprising:

a first antenna for receiving an alert signal;

a receiver coupled to said antenna for decoding said alert signal;

a monitor circuit coupled to said receiver and responsive to said decoded alert signal to activate a processor;

a second antenna for receiving a broadcast warning message;

said receiver coupled to said second antenna for decoding said broadcast warning message;

said processor coupled to said second receiver and responsive to said decoded message to activate an alarm indicative of the warning message received.

8. The personal alert device of claim 7 wherein said alert signal is generated by the National Weather Service.

9. The personal alert device of claim 7 wherein said alert signal is generated by NOAA.

10. The personal alert device of claim 7 wherein said alert signal is generated by FEMA.

11. The personal alert device of claim 7 wherein said alert signal is generated by a governmental agency.

12. The personal alert device of claim 7 wherein said alert signal is generated by an authorized third party.

13. The personal alert device of claim 7 wherein said processor is activated for a predetermined period of time.

14. A method of disseminating emergency information comprising the steps of:

receiving event transmission information indicative of an emergency within a geographic area;

extracting an event code and location code from said event transmission information;

identifying the nature of said emergency from said event code;

identifying at least one transmitter within a predetermined distance of a specified location identified by said location code within a portion of said geographic area;

formatting said event code corresponding to said emergency; and

broadcasting said formatted event code by said at least one transmitter.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said event transmission information is an EAS signal.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said EAS signal includes a first preamble and EAS header code, an audio attention signal, a message, and a second preamble followed by EAS end of message codes.

17. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said event transmission information includes time period information.

18. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said event transmission information includes a message, wherein said extracting step includes extracting said message from said event transmission information, wherein said formatting step includes formatting said message;

wherein said broadcasting step includes broadcasting said formatted message; and

wherein said receiving step includes receiving said formatted message.

19. The method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising the step of displaying said formatted message.