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 selected geographical area of the user, the location-specific alert information being broadcast to the selected 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 to continuously monitor a communication channel of the wireless bi-directional communication network solely for the receipt of a transmission of location-specific alert information from a transmitter servicing the selected geographical area of the user and to operate said peripheral device in response to the reception of a transmission of location-specific alert information;
wherein said controller is further operable to monitor said communication channel of said wireless bi-directional network for the receipt of a transmission indicating an selected service level and to control said peripheral device to provide alert information to the user in accordance with said selected service level.
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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.
96 Citations
24 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 selected geographical area of the user, the location-specific alert information being broadcast to the selected 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 to continuously monitor a communication channel of the wireless bi-directional communication network solely for the receipt of a transmission of location-specific alert information from a transmitter servicing the selected geographical area of the user and to operate said peripheral device in response to the reception of a transmission of location-specific alert information;
wherein said controller is further operable to monitor said communication channel of said wireless bi-directional network for the receipt of a transmission indicating an selected service level and to control said peripheral device to provide alert information to the user in accordance with said selected service level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. 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 transmission specifying a selected service level;
monitoring the selected communication channel with the receiver for a transmission including location-specific alert information pertaining to the alert condition; and
,operating the peripheral device to notify the user of the alert condition upon detection of a transmission including location-specific alert information in accordance with the selected service level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for providing to a user location-specific alert information associated with an alert condition relevant to persons in the selected geographical area of the user, the location-specific alert information being digitally broadcast to the selected geographical area by at least one transmitter of a wireless bidirectional 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 said controller is further operable to monitor said channel of said plurality of communications channels for the receipt of a transmission specifying a selected service level and to control said peripheral device to provide alert information to the user in accordance with said selected service level. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification