Apparatus and method for providing weather and other alerts
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing to a user location-specific alert information associated with an alert condition relevant to persons in the respective geographical area of the user, the location-specific alert information being broadcast to the respective geographical area by at least one transmitter of a wireless bi-directional communication network having a plurality of communication channels and a plurality of transmitters which are each positioned to provide communication services to persons in a particular respective geographical area serviced by the communication network, said apparatus comprising:
- a receiver adapted to receive transmissions on a communication channel of the plurality of communication channels of the wireless bi-directional communication network;
a peripheral device operable to inform the user of the existence of a relevant alert condition; and
, a controller communicatively connected to said receiver and said peripheral device, said controller being operable (i) to continuously monitor a communication channel of the wireless bi-directional communication network solely for the receipt by said receiver of a non-uniquely addressed transmission of location-specific alert information broadcast by a transmitter servicing the respective geographical area of the user to unidentified receiving devices present in said area for reception thereof and action in response thereto, and (ii) to operate said peripheral device in response to the reception of said transmission of location-specific alert information.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, including an alert device having a receiver, and method are provided for receiving location-specific alert information broadcast via particular telecommunication transmitters operating within a cellular, PCS, or other wireless telecommunications network, thereby allowing delivery of a location-specific message to a user without requiring the input of data representative of the location of the alert device'"'"'s receiver. The alert device includes a receiver for receiving digital messages in the form of broadcast short messages on a digital control channel, a microcomputer having a monitoring circuit that monitors received digital messages for the presence of an alert code associated with alert messages regarding an alert condition, and a plurality of peripheral devices which produce various tones and flashing lights in response to the alert device'"'"'s reception of an appropriate alert message.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing to a user location-specific alert information associated with an alert condition relevant to persons in the respective geographical area of the user, the location-specific alert information being broadcast to the respective geographical area by at least one transmitter of a wireless bi-directional communication network having a plurality of communication channels and a plurality of transmitters which are each positioned to provide communication services to persons in a particular respective geographical area serviced by the communication network, said apparatus comprising:
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a receiver adapted to receive transmissions on a communication channel of the plurality of communication channels of the wireless bi-directional communication network;
a peripheral device operable to inform the user of the existence of a relevant alert condition; and
,a controller communicatively connected to said receiver and said peripheral device, said controller being operable (i) to continuously monitor a communication channel of the wireless bi-directional communication network solely for the receipt by said receiver of a non-uniquely addressed transmission of location-specific alert information broadcast by a transmitter servicing the respective geographical area of the user to unidentified receiving devices present in said area for reception thereof and action in response thereto, and (ii) to operate said peripheral device in response to the reception of said transmission of location-specific alert information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 38)
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16. A method of operating a device having a receiver and a peripheral device to receive location-specific alert information pertaining to an alert condition which is broadcast by a wireless bi-directional communication network having a plurality of communication channels and to inform a user of the existence of the alert condition, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a communication channel from the plurality of communication channels of the wireless bi-directional communication network;
monitoring the selected communication channel with the receiver for a nonuniquely addressed transmission including location-specific alert information pertaining to the alert condition, wherein the transmission is broadcast by a transmitter of the wireless bi-directional communication network to unidentified receiving devices present in a respective geographical area of the user for reception thereof and action in response thereto; and
,operating the peripheral device to notify the user of the alert condition upon detection of a transmission including location-specific alert information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
positioning the receiver for receiving location-specific alert information at a plurality of locations to receive transmissions from a plurality of communication channels of the wireless bi-directional communication network, determining the signal strength of transmissions received from the plurality of communication channels by the receiver at each location of the plurality of locations, and based at least in part on the signal strength of transmissions received from the plurality of communication channels by the receiver at each location of the plurality of locations, locating the receiver at the location corresponding to the maximum determined signal strength. -
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of operating includes the steps of determining the severity level of the alert condition and operating the peripheral device in accordance with the severity level.
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21. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises the steps of
continuously monitoring the selected communication channel for location-specific alert information indicating the end of the alert condition, receiving from the selected communication channel location-specific alert information indicating the end of the alert condition, and altering operation of the peripheral device in response to receipt of location-specific alert information indicating the end of the alert condition. -
22. The method of claim 16, wherein the peripheral device includes an alphanumeric display and the step of operating includes a step of displaying a text message corresponding to the alert condition on the alphanumeric display.
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23. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless bi-directional communication network includes a cellular telecommunication network.
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24. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless bi-directional communication network includes a PCS communication network.
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25. An apparatus for providing to a user location-specific alert information associated with an alert condition relevant to persons in the respective geographical area of the user, the location-specific alert information being digitally broadcast to the respective geographical area by at least one transmitter of a wireless bi-directional telecommunication network, the location-specific alert information including information rendering the location-specific alert information identifiable from other transmissions of the communication network, said apparatus comprising:
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a receiver adapted to receive digital transmissions on a channel of the plurality of communication channels of the wireless bi-directional communication network;
a peripheral device operable to inform the user of the existence of the alert condition; and
,a controller communicatively connected to said receiver and said peripheral device, said controller being operable to recognize the information rendering the location-specific alert information identifiable from other transmissions of the communication network and to operate said peripheral device in response to the recognition of a digital transmission of location-specific alert information;
wherein a digital transmission of location-specific alert information is non-uniquely addressed and is broadcast to unidentified receiving devices present in the respective geographical area of the user for reception thereof and action in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39)
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Specification