Predetermined emergency alert messages

• US 8,037,151 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sennett, DeWayne Allan, Daly, Brian Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo; Joshua
• Assistant Examiner(s): Willis; Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US11/937,048
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/404.1, 455/414.2, 455/466, 709/206, 709/207, 709/219, 709/224, 709/225, 340/426.21
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates

Abstract

Wireless emergency alert messages are provide to mobile devices as predetermined (canned) messages. The predetermined messages are size limited to conserve network resources and accommodate various mobile devices. In an example configuration, the predetermined emergency alert messages are created based upon the attributes of the common alerting protocol (CAP). To provide greater flexibility to authorized originators of emergency alert messages, the predetermined emergency alert message can include free-form text or characters as provided by the authorized originator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first emergency alert message;

analyzing, via a processor, the received first emergency alert message for determining at least one characteristic of an emergency indicated therein;

determining if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text that deviates from a format of a predetermined emergency alert message associated with the at least one characteristic;

if the received first emergency alert message does not comprise free form text, selecting a predetermined emergency alert message from a plurality of predetermined emergency alert messages in accordance with at least one of the at least one determined characteristic, and providing a second emergency alert message comprising the selected predetermined emergency alert message;

if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text, determining if an originator of the first emergency alert message is an authorized originator authorized to deviate from the format of the predetermined emergency alert message;

if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text and the originator of the first emergency alert message is an authorized originator, generating a second emergency alert message comprising the free form text; and

if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text and the originator of the first emergency alert message is not an authorized originator, selecting the predetermined emergency alert message from the plurality of predetermined emergency alert messages in accordance with at least one of the at least one determined characteristic, and providing a second emergency alert message comprising the selected predetermined emergency alert message, wherein the selected predetermined emergency alert message does not contain the free form text.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the first emergency alert message is formatted in accordance with a wireless emergency message protocol; and

at least one field of the protocol is analyzed to determine the at least one characteristic.

3. The method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the protocol is a common alerting protocol (CAP).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each second emergency alert message is size limited.

5. A system comprising:

an input/output portion configured to;

receive a first emergency alert message; and

provide a second emergency alert message;

a processing portion configured to;

analyze the received first emergency alert message for determining at least one characteristic of an emergency indicated therein;

determine if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text that deviates from a format of a predetermined emergency alert message associated with the at least one characteristic;

if the received first emergency alert message does not comprise free form text, select a predetermined emergency alert message from a plurality of predetermined emergency alert messages in accordance with at least one of the at least one determined characteristic, and providing a second emergency alert message comprising the selected predetermined emergency alert message;

if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text, determine if an originator of the first emergency alert message is an authorized originator authorized to deviate from the format of the predetermined emergency alert message;

if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text and the originator of the first emergency alert message is an authorized originator, generate the second emergency alert message comprising the free form text; and

if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text and the originator of the first emergency alert message is not an authorized originator, select the predetermined emergency alert message from the plurality of predetermined emergency alert messages in accordance with at least one of the at least one determined characteristic, and generate the second emergency alert message comprising the selected predetermined emergency alert message, wherein the selected predetermined emergency alert message does not contain the free form text; and

a memory portion configured to store at least one of;

the plurality of predetermined emergency alert messages; and

a list of authorized originators of the emergency alert message.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

the first emergency alert message is formatted in accordance with a wireless emergency message protocol; and

at least one field of the protocol is analyzed to determine the at least one characteristic.

7. The system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the protocol is a common alerting protocol (CAP).

8. The system of claim 5, wherein each the second emergency alert message is size limited.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is not a signal, the computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving a first emergency alert message;

analyzing the received first emergency alert message for determining at least one characteristic of an emergency indicated therein;

determining if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text that deviates from a format of a predetermined emergency alert message associated with the at least one characteristic;

if the received first emergency alert message does not comprise free form text, selecting a predetermined emergency alert message from a plurality of predetermined emergency alert messages in accordance with at least one of the at least one determined characteristic, and providing a second emergency alert message comprising the selected predetermined emergency alert message;

if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text, determining if an originator of the first emergency alert message is an authorized originator authorized to deviate from the format of the predetermined emergency alert message;

if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text and the originator of the first emergency alert message is an authorized originator, generating a second emergency alert message comprising the free form text; and

if the received first emergency alert message comprises free form text and the originator of the first emergency alert message is not an authorized originator, selecting the predetermined emergency alert message from the plurality of predetermined emergency alert messages in accordance with at least one of the at least one determined characteristic, and providing the second emergency alert message comprising the selected predetermined emergency alert message, wherein the selected predetermined emergency alert message does not contain the free form text.

10. The computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the first emergency alert message is formatted in accordance with a wireless emergency message protocol; and

at least one field of the protocol is analyzed to determine the at least one characteristic.

11. The computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 10, wherein the protocol is a common alerting protocol (CAP).

12. The computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 9, wherein each second emergency alert message is size limited.