Alert gateway, systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing an alert to a subscriber, the method comprising:
- providing an alert gateway device at a subscriber premises, the alert gateway device being configured to receive an alert message;
receiving an alert message at the alert gateway device, the alert message comprising an alert;
processing the alert message;
determining how to provide the alert to the subscriber, wherein the determination includes determining which one or more of a plurality subscriber devices should receive the alert message;
based on the determination of how to provide the alert to the subscriber, formatting the alert in such a way to facilitate the provision of the alert in a determined manner, wherein formatting the alert includes processing the alert into an electronic message that can be received by one of the subscriber devices; and
providing the alert to the subscriber according to the determination of how to provide the alert to the subscriber.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for distributing urgent public information. Merely by way of example, urgent public information, such as an alert message, may be received by, inter alia, an alert gateway device. The alert message may then be distributed to a subscriber in any of a variety of ways, including by telephone, by data message (e.g., to a computer), by video message (e.g., via a television), by display on an alert notification device. In some embodiments, the alert gateway device may process the alert message and/or may determine how to provide the alert message to the subscriber.
92 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of providing an alert to a subscriber, the method comprising:
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providing an alert gateway device at a subscriber premises, the alert gateway device being configured to receive an alert message; receiving an alert message at the alert gateway device, the alert message comprising an alert; processing the alert message; determining how to provide the alert to the subscriber, wherein the determination includes determining which one or more of a plurality subscriber devices should receive the alert message; based on the determination of how to provide the alert to the subscriber, formatting the alert in such a way to facilitate the provision of the alert in a determined manner, wherein formatting the alert includes processing the alert into an electronic message that can be received by one of the subscriber devices; and providing the alert to the subscriber according to the determination of how to provide the alert to the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system for providing alerts to a subscriber, the system comprising:
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at least one communication medium; a plurality of subscriber devices in communication with the at least one communication medium and configured to receive an alert and provide the alert to the subscriber; an alert gateway device located at a subscriber premises, the alert gateway comprising at least one external interface and at least one internal interface, the at least one internal interface being in communication with the at least one communication medium, the alert gateway being configured to; receive an alert message via the at least one external interface, the alert message comprising an alert; interpret the alert message; determine how to provide the alert to the subscriber, wherein the determination includes determining which one or more of the plurality subscriber devices should receive the alert message; based on the determination of how to provide the alert to the subscriber, format the alert in such a way to facilitate the provision of the alert in a determined manner wherein formatting the alert includes processing the alert into an electronic message that can be received by one of the subscriber devices; transmit the alert via the at least one internal interface, such that the alert is received by the at least one subscriber device and provided to the subscriber according to the determination of how to provide the alert to the subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. In a relationship between a subscriber and at least one alert provider, an alert gateway device located at a subscriber premises for providing an alert to a subscriber, the alert gateway device being in communication with a communication network, wherein the alert gateway device includes a first, external interface, a second, internal interface and at least one processor, the alert gateway device being configured to:
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receive an alert message from the alert provider via the first interface, the alert message comprising an alert and associated alert information; process the alert to determine how the alert shall be handled, wherein processing the alert includes formatting the alert into an electronic message for reception by one of a plurality of subscriber devices, and, wherein the determination includes determining which one or more of the plurality of subscriber devices should receive the alert message; and based on the determination of how the alert shall be handled, take at least one specific action with respect to the alert. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25)
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22. An alert gateway device as recited in 17, wherein taking at least one specific action comprises, if no acknowledgement is received within a certain period, transmitting for reception by the alert provider a notification that the alert was not received by the subscriber.
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26. In a relationship between a subscriber and at least one alert provider, a method of providing an alert to a subscriber, the method comprising:
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providing an alert gateway located at a subscriber premises in communication with a communication network, wherein the alert gateway device includes a first, external interface, a second, internal interface and at least one processor; receiving via the first interface an alert message comprising an alert and associated alert information; processing the alert to determine how the alert shall be handled, wherein processing the alert includes formatting the alert into an electronic message for reception by one of a plurality of subscriber devices and wherein the determination includes determining which one or more of the plurality of subscriber devices should receive the alert message; and based on the determination of how the alert shall be handled, taking at least one specific action with respect to the alert.
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27. In a relationship between a subscriber and at least one alert provider, a system for providing an alert to a subscriber, the system comprising:
an alert gateway device located at a subscriber premises in communication with a communication network, wherein the alert gateway device includes a first, external interface, a second, internal interface and at least one processor, the alert gateway device being configured to; receive an alert message from the alert provider via the first interface, the alert message comprising an alert and associated alert information; process the alert to determine how the alert shall be handled, wherein processing the alert includes formatting the alert into an electronic message for reception by one of a plurality of subscriber devices and wherein the determination includes determining which one or more of the plurality of subscriber devices should receive the alert message; and based on the determination of how the alert shall be handled, take at least one specific action with respect to the alert; at least one communication medium in communication with the second interface; and at least one subscriber device in communication with the alert gateway device via the communication medium, the at least one subscriber device being configured to receive an alert from the alert gateway and notify the subscriber about the alert. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
Specification