Intelligent alerting systems

• US 6,553,100 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2000
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Jennifer H., Sayko, Robert J., Leger, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US09/707,863
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/38, 379/39, 379/45, 379/46, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/102.04, 379/106.02, 379/201.02, 379/207.12, 348/552, 348/563, 340/531
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

This invention provides for intelligent alerting systems that receive a notification, such as an incoming message or the like or indication thereof, or an indication of an abnormal condition, such as a device malfunction, a burglary attempt, or the like and alert end-users via one or more devices, including one or more enhanced performance reproduction devices such as an enhanced television or an enhanced radio. The systems include an intelligent processor that determines whether the one or more enhanced performance reproduction devices are reproducing a performance, and transmits an alert when a performance is being reproduced. The systems may also transmit an alert to other devices, such as pagers, telephones, personal computers, etc. When the notification indicates an abnormal condition, the systems may perform countermeasures, such as turning off a malfunctioning device, calling the police or the like.

Claims

1. An intelligent alerting method, comprising:

receiving a notification;

detecting whether the notification indicates an abnormal event and performing a countermeasure that addresses the abnormal event when the notification indicates an abnormal event;

scanning one or more scannable devices including at least one of (a) one or more potential alert devices that can potentially receive and output an alert and (b) one or more alert-incapable devices that are not designed to receive an alert;

generating, based on a result of the scanning of the one or more scannable devices, an alert device list of one or more alert devices that can receive an alert; and

transmitting an alert to an alert device included in the alert device list.

2. An intelligent alerting device, comprising a controller that:

receives a notification;

detects whether the notification indicates an abnormal event and performs a countermeasure that addresses the abnormal event when the notification indicates an abnormal event;

scans one or more scannable devices including at least one of (a) one or more potential alert devices that can potentially receive and output an alert and (b) one or more alert-incapable devices that are not designed to receive an alert;

generates, based on a result of the scanning of the one or more device, an alert device list of one or more alert devices that can receive an alert; and

transmits an alert to an alert device included in the alert device list.

3. A method, comprising:

receiving a notification which indicates an abnormal;

performing a countermeasure that addresses the abnormal event

scanning one or more potential alert devices that can potentially receive and output an alert;

generating, based on a result of the scanning of the one or more scannable devices, an alert device list of one or more alert devices that can receive an alert; and

transmitting an alert to an alert device included in the alert device list.