Encoder/decoder for emergency alert system

• US 5,995,553 A
• Filed: 01/28/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TFT, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TFT, Inc.
• Inventors: Fesler, Kenneth, Crandall, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US08/789,296
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 375/219, 375/222, 375/272, 375/303, 375/334, 375/242, 340/870.09, 340/901, 340/870, 340/945, 329/300, 329/315, 332/100, 332/118, 332/117, 348/14, 455/404, 455/521, 455/527
• US Class Current: 375/272
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/12 Arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/10 Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence

Abstract

An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system to enable broadcasters to receive, store, re-broadcast and originate emergency alert messages. Multiple emergency alert signals are received by the encoder/decoder. A digital signal processor of the encoder/decoder scans the reception of the multiple emergency alert messages to determine the presence of an incoming emergency alert signal. The digital signal processor provides digital implementation of a frequency shift key modulation and a frequency shift key demodulation to encode and decode emergency alert messages. Additionally, the digital signal processor functions as a central processing unit to control input/output ports over a digital signal processor bus for performing all encoding and decoding functions and to control all encoding and decoding functions.

Claims

1. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system comprising:

(a) audio input means for receiving audio voice alert message signals;

(b) audio output means through which the audio voice alert message signals are forwarded; and

(c) a digital signal processor for controlling the passage of the audio voice alert message signals from said audio input means to said audio output means, said digital signal processor providing implementation of modulation and demodulation of said audio voice alert message signals for encoding and decoding voice emergency alert message with event data.

2. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said modulation by said digital signal processor is frequency shift key modulation and wherein said demodulation implementation by said digital signal processor is frequency shift key demodulation.

3. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said digital signal processor includes a delay and multiplication for the demodulation by said digital signal processor to improve signal to noise ratio performance and for tolerance to distortion of the reception of the audio alert message signals.

4. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said frequency shift key demodulation provides detection of mark and space frequencies within the audio voice alert message signals, said mark and space frequencies being delayed and multiplied with the resulting products therefrom being added.

5. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system comprising:

(a) audio input means, said audio input means including a plurality of audio channel connectors for receiving respectively a plurality of audio voice alert message signals;

(b) audio output means through which audio voice alert message signals are forwarded; and

(c) a digital signal processor for scanning said plurality of audio voice alert message signals and for controlling the passage of the audio voice alert message signals from said audio input means to said audio output means, said digital signal processor providing implementation of modulation and demodulation of said audio voice alert message signals.

6. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system comprising:

(a) audio input means for receiving audio input message signals comprising coded digital location signals and voice message signals;

(b) audio output means through which voice message signals are forwarded; and

(c) a digital signal processor for validating the coded digital location signals and in response to the validation of said coded digital location signals forwards the voice message signals to said audio output means, said digital signal processor providing implementation of modulation and demodulation of said audio alert message signals.

8. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 6, said encoder/decoder further comprising memory means for storing coded signals to match with said coded digital location signals, said digital signal processor comparing said coded digital location signals with said coded signals stored in said memory means to determine the validation of said coded digital location signals.

12. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 6, said encoder/decoder further comprising memory means for storing coded signals to match with said coded digital location signals, said digital signal processor comparing said coded digital location signals with said coded signals stored in said memory means to determine the validation of said coded digital location signals.

7. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system comprising:

(a) audio input means, said audio input means including a plurality of audio channel connectors for receiving respectively a plurality of audio alert message signals, each of said audio alert signals comprising coded digital location signals and voice message signals;

(b) audio output means through which voice message signals are forwarded; and

(c) a digital signal processor for scanning said plurality of audio alert message signals to determine the presence of an incoming signal representing an emergency alert message and for controlling the passage of audio alert message signals from said audio input means to said audio output means, said digital processor in response to the validation of said coded digital location signals forwards the voice message signals to said audio output means, said digital signal processor providing implementation of modulation and demodulation of said audio message signals.

9. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 7, said encoder/decoder further comprising memory means for storing coded signals to match with said coded digital location signals, said digital signal processor comparing said coded digital location signals with said coded signals stored in said memory means to determine the validation of said coded digital location signals.

10. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system comprising:

(a) audio input means for receiving audio input message signals comprising coded digital event signals and voice message signals;

(b) audio output means through which voice message signals are forwarded; and

(c) a digital signal processor for validating the coded digital event signals and in response to the validation of said coded digital event signals forwards the voice message signals to said audio output means, said digital signal processor providing implementation of modulation and demodulation of said audio alert message signals for encoding and decoding emergency alert messages with event data.

11. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system comprising:

(a) audio input means, said audio input means including a plurality of audio channel connectors for receiving respectively a plurality of audio alert message signals, each of said audio alert signals comprising coded digital event signals and voice message signals;

(b) audio output means through which voice message signals are forwarded; and

(c) a digital signal processor for scanning said plurality of audio alert message signals to determine the presence of an incoming signal representing an emergency alert message and for controlling the passage of audio alert message signals from said audio input means to said audio output means, said digital processor in response to the validation of said coded digital event signals forwards the voice message signals to said audio output means, said digital signal processor providing implementation of modulation and demodulation of said audio message signals.

13. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 11, said encoder/decoder further comprising memory means for storing coded signals to match with coded event signals, said digital signal processor comparing said coded digital event signals with said coded signals stored in said memory means to determine the validation of said coded digital event signals.

14. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system comprising:

(a) audio input means for receiving audio alert message signals;

(b) audio output means through which the audio alert message signals are transmitted;

(c) display means for displaying an operational reminder test message for checking the operation of said encoder/decoder; and

(d) a digital signal processor for controlling the passage of the audio alert message signals from said audio input means through said audio output means, said digital signal processor controlling the operation of said display means for displaying an operational reminder test message for said encoder/decoder in response to said audio output means not transmitting an operational test message for said encoder/decoder within a prescribed period of time.

15. A encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 14 in which said digital signal processor implements timing operations.

16. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 15 and comprising memory means for storing an operational reminder test message for said encoder/decoder, said digital signal processor communicating with said memory means and said display means for displaying an operational reminder test message for checking the operation of said encoder/decoder in response to said audio output means not transmitting an operational test message for said encoder/decoder within a prescribed period of time.

17. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 14 and comprising memory means for storing an operational reminder test message for checking the operation of said encoder/decoder, said digital signal processor communicating with said memory means and said display means for displaying an operational reminder test message for said encoder/decoder in response to said audio output means not transmitting an operational test message for said encoder/decoder within a prescribed period of time.

18. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system comprising:

(a) audio input means for receiving audio alert message signals;

(b) audio output means through which the audio alert message signals are forwarded for transmission;

(c) display means for displaying an operational reminder test message for checking the operation of said encoder/decoder; and

(d) a digital signal processor for controlling the passage of the audio alert message signals from said audio input means through said audio output means, said digital signal processor controlling the operation of said display means for displaying an operational reminder test message for said encoder/decoder in response to said audio input means not receiving an operational test message for said encoder/decoder within a prescribed period of time.

19. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 18 in which said digital signal processor implements timing operations.

20. An encoder/decoder for an emergency alert system as claimed in claim 19 and comprising memory means for storing an operational reminder test message for checking the operation of said encoder/decoder, said digital signal processor communicating with said memory means and said display means for displaying an operational reminder test message for said encoder/decoder in response to said audio input means not receiving an operational test message for said encoder/decoder within a prescribed period of time.

21. An encoder/decoder as claimed in claim 18 and comprising memory means for storing an operational reminder test message for checking the operation of said encoder/decoder, said digital signal processor communicating with said memory means and said display means for displaying an operational reminder test message for said encoder/decoder in response to said audio input means not receiving an operational test message for said encoder/decoder within a prescribed period of time.