Methods, systems and apparatus for providing urgent public information

• US 7,389,104 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phillips, Bruce A., Casey, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERGUSON, KEITH
• Application Number:
  US11/670,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/422.1, 455/403, 455/521, 455/500, 455/517, 455/3.01, 455/3.03, 455/2.01, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/550.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/466, 340/7.48, 340/7.47, 340/7.45, 340/7.2, 340/7.1, 340/825.36, 379/372, 370/480, 370/485, 370/486
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 : the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for distributing urgent public information. For example, one exemplary of the invention provides a method for providing an alert to a subscriber. The exemplary method comprises receiving an alert message from at least one alert source. The alert message often will be pertinent to at least one of the subscribers. The alert message can comprise an alert and associated alert information. The alert information can provide information about the alert such that the information can be analyzed determine whether a particular subscriber likely should receive the alert. Other embodiments provide systems, which can be used to perform the methods of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for providing an alert to a subscriber, wherein the system comprises:

an alert receiver configured to receive an alert message from at least one alert source, wherein the alert message comprises an alert and associated alert information, and wherein the alert information can be analyzed to determine whether a particular subscriber should receive the alert; and

an alert distribution device in communication with a storage medium, wherein the storage medium includes a directory of alert gateways, each alert gateway associated with a distribution address of a subscriber, and wherein the alert distribution device is configured to;

receive the alert message from the alert receiver;

determine, based on the alert information and the directory of alert gateways, a set of one or more distribution addresses to which the alert applies; and

transmit the alert to the determined set of distribution addresses.

2. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 1, wherein at least one alerts source is a federal, state, or local governmental authority.

3. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 1, wherein the alert receiver being configured to receive the alert message from at least one alert source comprises the alert distribution device being configured to receive the alert message via the Internet.

4. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 1, wherein the alert receiver being configured to receive the alert message from at least one alert source comprises the alert distribution device being configured to receive the alert message via a public telephone network.

5. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 1, wherein the alert distribution device incorporates the functionality of the alert receiver.

6. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 1, wherein the alert distribution device being configured to determine, based on the alert information and the directory of alert gateways, a set of one or more distribution addresses to which the alert applies comprises searching the directory of alert gateways for all gateways located within a geographic area specified by the alert message.

7. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises the storage medium, and wherein the storage medium is configured to:

communicate with a database, wherein the database includes characteristic information for a plurality of distribution addresses;

modify the directory of alert gateways based at least in part on the contents of the database.

8. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 1, wherein the alert distribution device being configured to transmit the alert to the determined set of distribution addresses comprises the alert distribution device being configured to transmit the alert via a public telephone network.

9. A method for providing an alert to a subscriber, wherein the method comprises:

receiving an alert message from at least one alert source, wherein the alert message comprises an alert and associated alert information, and wherein the alert information can be analyzed to determine whether a particular subscriber should receive the alert;

accessing a storage medium, wherein the storage medium includes a directory of alert gateways, each alert gateway associated with a distribution address of a subscriber,

determining, based on the alert information and the directory of alert gateways, a set of one or more distribution addresses to which the alert applies; and

transmitting the alert to the determined set of distribution addresses.

10. The method for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 9, wherein receiving the alert message from at least one alert source comprises receiving the alert message via the Internet.

11. The method for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 9, wherein receiving the alert message from at least one alert source comprises receiving the alert message via a public telephone network.

12. The method for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 9, wherein determining, based an the alert information and the directory of alert gateways, a set of one or more distribution addresses to which the alert applies comprises searching the directory of alert gateways for all gateways located within a geographic area specified by the alert message.

13. The method for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

communicating with a database, wherein the database includes characteristic information for a plurality of distribution addresses; and

modifying the directory of alert gateways based at least in part on the contents of the database.

14. The method for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 9, wherein transmitting the alert to the determined set of distribution addresses comprises the alert distribution device being configured to transmit the alert via a public telephone network.

15. A system for providing an alert to a subscriber, wherein the system comprises:

means for receiving an alert message from at least one alert source, wherein the alert message comprises an alert and associated alert information, and wherein the alert information can be analyzed to determine whether a particular subscriber should receive the alert;

means for accessing a storage medium, wherein the storage medium includes a directory of alert gateways, each alert gateway associated with a distribution address of a subscriber;

means for determining, based on the alert information and the directory of alert gateways, a set of one or more distribution addresses to witch the alert applies; and

means for transmitting the alert to the determined set of distribution addresses.

16. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving the alert message from at least one alert source comprises means for receiving the alert message via the Internet.

17. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving the alert message from at least one alert source comprises means for receiving the alert message via a public telephone network.

18. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 15, wherein the means for determining, based on the alert information and the directory of alert gateways, a set of one or more distribution addresses to which the alert applies comprises means for searching the directory of alert gateways for all gateways located within a geographic area specified by the alert message.

19. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 15, wherein the system further comprises:

means for communicating with a database, wherein the database includes characteristic information for a plurality of distribution addresses; and

means for modifying the directory of alert gateways based at least in part on the contents of the database.

20. The system for providing an alert to a subscriber of claim 15, wherein the means for transmitting the alert to the determined set of distribution addresses comprises means for transmitting the alert to the detennined set of distribution addresses comprises the alert distribution device being configured to transmit the alert via a public telephone network.