Wireless device with integrated emergency alert notification

• US 7,995,998 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rivers, Paul Brent, Wright, Darrick
• Primary Examiner(s): SANTIAGO CORDERO, MARIVELISSE
• Application Number:
  US10/760,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20050159132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,758 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/414.3, 340/601, 340/7.48
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area

Abstract

A telecommunications device for use by a telecommunications user is disclosed. The telecommunications device includes a housing having located therein a wireless telephone for receiving an incoming call and a receiver unit for receiving an emergency alert broadcast. The wireless telephone includes a first receiver and a processor in communication therewith, and the receiver unit includes a second receiver in communication with the processor of the wireless telephone.

Claims

1. A wireless device for receiving an incoming call, the wireless device comprising:

a first receiver configured to receive telephone calls;

a second receiver, different than the first receiver, the second receiver configured to receive an emergency alert broadcast; and

a microcontroller in communication with the first and second receivers, the microcontroller configured to be a common processor resource for the first and second receivers of the wireless device, by;

determining whether an emergency alert broadcast is being received at the second receiver,

determining whether to provide a notification of the emergency alert broadcast based on user-defined emergency alert preferences, the user-defined emergency alert preferences comprising one or more emergency alert types,

storing code information received from the emergency alert broadcast,

presenting an option to suspend a call in progress;

providing a periodic reminder of the emergency alert broadcast upon receipt of a first manual selection to decline to suspend the call in progress, the periodic reminder comprising information regarding an emergency associated with the emergency alert broadcast, the periodic reminder being continually provided at a predetermined time interval until an expiration date and time of the emergency, and the predetermined time interval comprising a user-specified time interval between reminders of the emergency alert; and

suspending the call in progress and providing the emergency alert notification based on the coded information upon receipt of a second manual selection to suspend the call in progress.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to resume the suspended call in progress upon receipt of a third manual selection to resume the suspended call.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first receiver includes a RF transceiver unit.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second receiver includes a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio weather receiver configured to receive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio-specific Area Message Encoding emergency alert broadcasts.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio weather receiver is further configured to receive standard frequency modulated (FM) and amplitude modulation (AM) broadcasts.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second receiver includes a digital receiver.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a digital signal processor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver unit includes a first processing module for extracting the code information included in the emergency alert broadcast and the periodic reminder includes an emergency alert message containing at least a portion of the code information.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the emergency alert message comprises an audible emergency alert message, a visual emergency alert message, or an audiovisual emergency alert message.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to determine the expiration date and time of the emergency by adding an expected time duration for which the emergency alert broadcast is valid to an issuance date and time of the emergency alert broadcast.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to provide a sensory alert associated with the emergency alert broadcast.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is further configured to provide a sensory alert associated with the emergency alert broadcast, the sensory alert comprising an option to suspend a call in progress and an option to terminate a call in progress.

13. A wireless telephone, comprising:

a weather alert radio which includes a receiver configured to communicate with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radio broadcast system or a digital satellite system;

a digital AM/FM radio module in communication with the weather alert radio;

an alerting module in communication with the weather alert radio and the wireless telephone, configured to provide an audio, a visual or an audio-visual alert, wherein the magnitude and type of the alert is selectably modulateable;

a speaker jack, coupled to the weather alert radio, the digital AM/FM radio module and the wireless telephone;

a power module, including a battery power pack coupled to the wireless telephone, weather alert radio, AM/FM radio module, and alerting module;

a user interface, having a key pad, wherein the key pad is in communication with the weather alert radio, the digital AM/FM radio module and the wireless telephone;

an antenna, coupled to the wireless telephone, in communication with the wireless telephone and the weather alert radio; and

a microcontroller configured to;

determine whether to provide a notification of an National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration alert broadcast based on user-defined emergency alert preferences, wherein the user-defined emergency alert preferences comprise one or more emergency alert types;

provide an option to suspend a call in progress;

provide a periodic reminder of an emergency alert broadcast upon receipt of a first manual selection to decline to the call in progress, the periodic reminder comprising information regarding a weather emergency associated with the emergency alert broadcast to the user of the wireless telephone, the periodic reminder being continually provided at a predetermined time interval until an expiration date and time of the weather emergency, and the predetermined time interval comprising a user-specified time interval between reminders of the emergency alert; and

suspend the call in progress and provide the notification upon receipt of a second manual selection to suspend the call in progress.

14. A method comprising:

activating a digital AM/FM radio module of a wireless telephone;

receiving a weather alert broadcast at the wireless telephone;

determining whether to provide a notification of the weather alert broadcast based on user-defined emergency alert preferences, wherein the user-defined emergency alert preferences comprise one or more emergency alert types a user wishes to be notified of;

automatically deactivating the digital AM/FM radio module of the wireless telephone upon receipt of the weather alert broadcast;

providing an option to suspend a call in progress;

providing a reminder associated with the weather alert broadcast via an audio, visual, or audio visual alert upon receipt of a first manual selection to decline to suspend the call in progress, wherein the reminder associated with the weather alert broadcast is provided periodically at a predetermined time interval, and wherein the predetermined time interval comprises a user-specified time interval between reminders of the emergency alert; and

providing information associated with the weather alert broadcast upon receipt of a second manual selection to suspend the call in progress.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the weather alert broadcast includes extracting coded information from the weather alert broadcast.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a recommended course of action based upon the extracted coded information, wherein a recommended course of action includes information regarding steps for managing a situation in a specific weather emergency.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the weather alert broadcast includes comparing the coded information to predetermined information stored in the wireless telephone.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the information associated with the weather alert broadcast comprises providing an emergency alert message, the emergency alert message comprising at least a portion of the coded information.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

if a wireless telephone call is not in progress, determining if the wireless telephone is activated; and

if the wireless telephone is not activated, activating one or more interface resources of the wireless telephone, wherein the one or more interface resources include a speaker, a microphone, a keypad, a display, a ringer, and a vibratory actuator.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein if the wireless telephone is activated, the information associated with the weather alert broadcast is provided.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the information associated with the weather alert broadcast includes providing the information simultaneously with a call in progress.