Integration of emergency alert information

• US 8,190,118 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): Cordero, Marivelisse Santiago
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fahnert, Marisol
• Application Number:
  US12/056,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/404.1, 455/440, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456, 455/404.2, 455/521, 455/567, 340/506, 340/539.1, 340/539.18, 340/500, 340/3.43, 340/7.29, 709/223, 709/224, 709/218, 370/356, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A subscriber of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) receiving an EAS alert message can obtain additional multimedia information in based upon the location of the subscriber. The additional multimedia information can include information pertaining to available shelter, medical facilities, the location of emergency supplies, a plume map, evacuation routes, or the like. In an example embodiment, the Global Positioning System or other device location systems is utilized to determine the location of the subscriber. The location information along with EAS alert information is used to query a database to obtain the additional information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an emergency alert server, an indication of an emergency alert from an emergency alert system;

transmitting, from the emergency alert server, the indication of an emergency alert to a wireless network;

receiving, at the emergency alert server, a request for information from a wireless mobile device, the request comprising an indication of a location of the wireless mobile device;

responsive to receiving the request for the information from the wireless mobile device, the emergency alert server obtaining an address of a supplemental emergency alert information server from a server location database;

transmitting, from the emergency alert server, a request for multimedia content of the information to the supplemental emergency alert information server, the request for multimedia content comprising the indication of the location of the wireless mobile device;

receiving the multimedia content at the emergency alert server; and

transmitting the multimedia content from the emergency alert server to the wireless mobile device.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the emergency alert server, an indication of an alert area associated with the emergency alert; and

transmitting the indication of the alert area to the wireless network.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the emergency alert server, information indicative of a type of intended recipient, wherein the request for the multimedia content comprises the information indicative of the type of intended recipient.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the multimedia content comprises at least one of information pertaining to available shelter, information pertaining to medical facilities, information pertaining to a location of supplies, information pertaining to a plume map, information pertaining to an evacuation route, a phone number, and an email address.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the request for the multimedia content comprises information relating to a capability for multimedia playback of the wireless mobile device.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wireless mobile device is a subscriber of the emergency alert system.

7. A system comprising at least one processor configured to:

receive an indication of an emergency alert from an emergency alert system;

transmit the indication of an emergency alert to a wireless network;

receive a request for information from a wireless mobile device, the request comprising an indication of a location of the wireless mobile device;

responsive to receiving the request for the information from the wireless mobile device, obtain an address of a supplemental emergency alert information server from a server location database;

transmit a request for multimedia content of the information to the supplemental emergency alert information server, the request for the multimedia content comprising the indication of the location of the wireless mobile device;

receive the multimedia content; and

transmit the multimedia content to the wireless mobile device.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7 further configured to:

receive an indication of an alert area associated with the emergency alert; and

transmit the indication of the alert area to the wireless network.

9. A system in accordance with claim 7 further configured to:

receive information indicative of a type of intended recipient, wherein the request for the multimedia content comprises the information indicative of the type of intended recipient.

10. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the multimedia content comprises at least one of information pertaining to available shelter, information pertaining to medical facilities, information pertaining to a location of supplies, information pertaining to a plume map, information pertaining to an evacuation route, a phone number, and an email address.

11. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the request for the multimedia content comprises information relating to a capability for multimedia playback of the wireless mobile device.

12. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the wireless mobile device is a subscriber of the emergency alert system.

13. A computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium not being a transient signal, having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for providing information, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving an indication of an emergency alert from an emergency alert system;

transmitting the indication of an emergency alert to a wireless network;

receiving a request for information from a wireless mobile device, the request comprising an indication of a location of the wireless mobile device;

responsive to receiving the request for the information from the wireless mobile device, obtaining an address of a supplemental emergency alert information server from a server location database;

transmitting a request for multimedia content of the information to the supplemental emergency alert information server, the request for multimedia content comprising the indication of the location of the wireless mobile device;

receiving the multimedia content; and

transmitting the multimedia content to the wireless mobile device.

14. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 13, the computer-executable instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving an indication of an alert area associated with the emergency alert; and

transmitting the indication of the alert area to the wireless network.

15. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 13, the computer-executable instructions further comprising instructions for:

receiving information indicative of a type of intended recipient, wherein the request for the multimedia content comprises the information indicative of the type of intended recipient.

16. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 13, wherein the multimedia content comprises at least one of information pertaining to available shelter, information pertaining to medical facilities, information pertaining to a location of supplies, information pertaining to a plume map, information pertaining to an evacuation route, a phone number, and an email address.

17. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 13, wherein the request for the multimedia content comprises information relating to a capability for multimedia playback of the wireless mobile device.

18. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 13, wherein the wireless mobile device is a subscriber of the emergency alert system.