Wireless community alerting system
First Claim
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1. An electronic messaging system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of physical units, each comprising;
(i) a microprocessor having a memory associated therewith,(ii) a plurality of light sources controlled by the microprocessor;
(iii) an icon associated with each of said plurality of light sources; and
(iv) a paging receiver responsive to a predetermined RF carrier frequency transmitted by a paging terminal and adapted to receive encoded messages in accordance with a predetermined protocol from said paging terminal on a non-prioritized basis, said encoded messages including an address code and whereby said physical units can be grouped either on a geographical or logical basis in that only those physical units whose paging receiver is tuned to said predetermined carrier frequency, and having an address matching said address code, can forward the data to said microprocessor for causing the microprocessor to actuate more than one of the plurality of light sources simultaneously in accordance with the received data for illuminating selective ones of said icons, thereby providing notification of multiple alert conditions at a given time.
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Abstract
A pager-based alert system includes a monitor center that is in telephonic or data communication with a paging station allowing the command center to send multi-digit code words where selected digits comprise an address for selecting one or more of a plurality of physical units (paging receivers) and to direct the receiver to output visible and/or audible signals indicative of a particular alert condition. By providing the physical unit with graphic icons overlaying the visual indicators, an observer can readily determine the nature of the alert condition so that appropriate remedial action can be taken.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An electronic messaging system comprising:
(a) a plurality of physical units, each comprising; (i) a microprocessor having a memory associated therewith, (ii) a plurality of light sources controlled by the microprocessor; (iii) an icon associated with each of said plurality of light sources; and (iv) a paging receiver responsive to a predetermined RF carrier frequency transmitted by a paging terminal and adapted to receive encoded messages in accordance with a predetermined protocol from said paging terminal on a non-prioritized basis, said encoded messages including an address code and whereby said physical units can be grouped either on a geographical or logical basis in that only those physical units whose paging receiver is tuned to said predetermined carrier frequency, and having an address matching said address code, can forward the data to said microprocessor for causing the microprocessor to actuate more than one of the plurality of light sources simultaneously in accordance with the received data for illuminating selective ones of said icons, thereby providing notification of multiple alert conditions at a given time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electronic messaging system comprising:
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(a) a monitoring center for accepting alerts from authorized agencies; (b) at least one paging terminal having the ability to broadcast a radio frequency carrier suitably modulated with information including addressing data and message data, said at least one paging terminal adapted to receive paging instructions from said monitoring center pertaining to an alert; (c) a plurality of physical units grouped on either a geographical or a logical basis using said addressing data, each including (i) a receiver tuned to said carrier frequency, the receiver including a demodulator for recovering the addressing data and message data, (ii) a microprocessor coupled to the receiver to receive the addressing data and message data, the microprocessor having a memory for storing a code list, (iii) a plurality of light sources controlled by the microprocessor, selected ones of the plurality of light sources being activated only when received addressing data matches entries in said code list and whereby multiple light sources can be simultaneously activated to signal multiple alert conditions at a given time; and (iv) a fixed icon associated with each of said plurality of light sources and which, when illuminated provides a non-lingual notification of one or more predetermined alerts. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification