Emergency alert data delivery apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. In a packet network comprising at least one server and a plurality of client devices in direct or indirect signal communication with said server, a method of delivering alert data to one or more of said client devices, said method comprising:
- receiving said alert data from one or more alert sources, said alert data comprising video and audio;
formatting said alert data in a format suitable for transport over said network;
delivering said alert data to said one or more client devices over said network;
in response to said delivery of said alert data to said one or more client devices, receiving one or more authentication requests from said one or more client devices;
authenticating said one or more client devices; and
when said one or more client devices are authenticated, causing said client devices to;
(i) display at least a first portion of said video alert data on a display device associated with respective ones of said client devices; and
(ii) present said audio alert data in place of said audio of at least one multimedia program being contemporaneously viewed on said display device.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for efficiently and flexibly providing emergency alert data (e.g., EAS messages) to subscribers of a content-based network, such as for example Internet protocol television (IPTV) subscribers. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a server performing real-time receipt and encapsulation of the EAS data (which may comprise audio, video, and/or text), transport of the EAS data to client devices over the network, and use of one or more applications running on the client devices to decode and display/present the EAS data in a manner which effectively guarantees that it will be perceived by the viewer. In one variant, instant messaging (IM) infrastructure is used to authenticate clients and receive and display at least portion of the EAS data via a separate transport process. Server and client-side apparatus adapted for EAS data receipt, decoding and display are also disclosed.
34 Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a packet network comprising at least one server and a plurality of client devices in direct or indirect signal communication with said server, a method of delivering alert data to one or more of said client devices, said method comprising:
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receiving said alert data from one or more alert sources, said alert data comprising video and audio; formatting said alert data in a format suitable for transport over said network; delivering said alert data to said one or more client devices over said network; in response to said delivery of said alert data to said one or more client devices, receiving one or more authentication requests from said one or more client devices; authenticating said one or more client devices; and when said one or more client devices are authenticated, causing said client devices to; (i) display at least a first portion of said video alert data on a display device associated with respective ones of said client devices; and (ii) present said audio alert data in place of said audio of at least one multimedia program being contemporaneously viewed on said display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of distributing both media content and emergency alert information over a packet network, said method comprising:
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receiving emergency alert information, said alert information comprising at least video; generating alert data relating to said alert information, said alert data comprising at least one alert video stream; inserting said generated alert data into a content stream comprising at least said media content; transmitting said single content stream to said one or more client devices over said packet network; and directing said one or more client devices to display at least a first portion of said alert data on respective display devices associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of providing emergency alert system (EAS) services to a non-EAS enabled device in an IPTV-enabled network via at least one server entity, said method comprising:
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authenticating said at least one server entity; receiving from one or more alert sources EAS data in a first format; converting said EAS data from said first format to a second format, said second format being suitable for transport over said network; and providing said EAS data to said non-EAS enabled device, said non-EAS enabled device comprising at least an IPTV video decoder, said IPTV video decoder of said non-EAS enabled device decoding and displaying at least a first portion of said EAS data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification