Methods, systems and apparatus for selectively distributing urgent public information

• US 8,490,129 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phillips, Bruce A., Casey, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beliveau, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick A
• Application Number:
  US10/676,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20040152493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,577 Days
• Field of Search: 725/32, 725/34, 725/35, 725/36, 725/33, 725/74, 725/80, 725/133, 725/141, 379/40, 455/521, 455/404.1, 340/7.48, 340/539.28, 340/540
• US Class Current: 725/33
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• 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 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/005 Interface circuits for subscriber lines current supply H04M19/00 and subgroups; supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements H04M3/22 and subgroups; in key telephone systems H04M9/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4886 : for displaying a ticker, e.g. scrolling banner for news, stock exchange, weather data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 : directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 : Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 : for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 : the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses, systems and methods for distributing public information. For example, some embodiments of the invention provide methods for determining an appropriate set of addresses to which to distribute an alert. One such exemplary method comprises maintaining a directory of alert gateways. The directory can comprise a plurality of directory entries, and each directory entry can be associated with a particular alert gateway. Each directory entry can also comprise at least one gateway characteristic associated with that alert gateway. In some cases, a gateway characteristic can include information to enable the alert distribution device to determine whether a given alert should be transmitted to the alert gateway.

Claims

1. In a relationship between a telecommunication provider and a plurality of subscribers, a method for determining an appropriate set of addresses to which to distribute an alert, the method comprising:

maintaining a directory of alert gateways, the directory comprising a plurality of directory entries, each directory entry being associated with a particular alert gateway and comprising at least one gateway characteristic associated with that alert gateway, the gateway characteristic including information to enable the alert distribution device to determine whether a given alert should be transmitted to the alert gateway;

maintaining a distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways, the distribution address for a particular alert gateway providing sufficient identifying information about that alert gateway to allow an alert to be transmitted to the alert gateway;

associating the at least one gateway characteristic for a particular alert gateway with the distribution address for that particular alert gateway;

receiving an alert, the alert being configured to describe an event and having associated information about the alert comprising event information characterizing the event, wherein said event information includes information related to specific details about the event;

identifying, based on the event information, a set of selection criteria for determining which of the plurality of alert gateways should receive the alert;

searching the directory for at least one directory entry comprising a gateway characteristic corresponding to the identified selection criteria;

identifying, based on the search, a set of at least one distribution address that should receive the alert, each member of the set of distribution addresses being associated with a directory entry comprising a gateway characteristic that corresponds to the identified selection criteria; and

formatting the alert into a message for the alert gateways to process for receipt by two or more subscribers with two or more types of subscriber equipment;

wherein the alert gateway is in communication with two or more different types of subscriber equipment, and is configured to analyze text of the event information to determine the urgency of the event and to determine to which of the two or more different types of subscriber equipment to provide the alert as a function of the urgency of the event information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one gateway characteristic associated with each of the alert gateways comprises information about the geographic location of the alert gateway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the alert comprises geographic information about a geographic area to which the alert pertains, such that subscribers outside the geographic area would be relatively unlikely to be interested in receiving the alert.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the directory entry for each alert gateway comprises information about a distribution address for that alert gateway, and wherein maintaining a distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways comprises maintaining the information about the distribution address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the directory of alert gateways comprises a first database.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways are maintained in a second database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one gateway characteristic associated with an alert gateway comprises information selected from the group consisting of the area code in which the alert gateway is located, the ZIP code in which the alert gateway is located, the latitude and longitude coordinates of the alert gateway, the Global Positioning System coordinates of the alert gateway, demographic information about a subscriber associated with the alert gateway, and information about subscriber preferences held by a subscriber associated with the alert gateway.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert comprises urgent public information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the urgent public information is selected from a group consisting of an Emergency Alert System transmission, an Amber Alert, a severe weather notification, and a Homeland Security Advisory notification.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the alert is incorporated within the alert.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert information about the alert is additional to the alert.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising extracting from the alert the information about the alert.

13. In a relationship between a telecommunication provider and a plurality of subscribers, a method for distributing an alert to an appropriate set of subscribers, the method comprising:

maintaining a database of alert gateways, the database comprising a plurality of database records, each database record being associated with an alert gateway and comprising location information about the geographic location of that alert gateway;

maintaining a distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways, the distribution address for an alert gateway providing sufficient identifying information about that alert gateway to allow an alert to be transmitted to the alert gateway;

associating the at least one gateway characteristic for a particular alert gateway with the distribution address for that particular alert gateway;

receiving an alert via the at least one interface member, the alert being configured to describe an event and comprising event information characterizing the event, wherein said event information includes information related to specific details about the event;

including information about a geographic area to which the event pertains, such that subscribers outside the geographic area would be relatively unlikely to be interested in receiving the alert;

identifying, based on the information about the geographic area to which the alert pertains, a set of geographic criteria for determining which of the plurality of alert gateways should receive the alert;

searching the database for at least one directory entry comprising location information meeting the set of geographic criteria;

identifying, based on the event information and the search, a set of at least one distribution address that should receive the alert, each member of the set of distribution addresses being associated with a directory entry comprising location information meeting the set of geographic criteria;

formatting the alert into a message for the alert gateways to process for receipt by two or more subscribers with two or more types of subscriber equipment; and

transmitting the alert to a set of alert gateways, each member of the set of alert gateways being associated with a member of the set of distribution addresses;

wherein the alert gateway is in communication with two or more different types of subscriber equipment, and is configured to analyze text of the event information to determine the urgency of the event and to determine to which of the two or more different types of subscriber equipment to provide the alert as a function of the urgency of the event information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert gateways is incorporated within a network interface device located at a subscriber location.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert gateways is in communication with a network interface device located at a subscriber location.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the location information is selected from the group consisting of the area code in which the alert gateway is located, the ZIP code in which the alert gateway is located, the latitude and longitude coordinates of the alert gateway, and the Global Positioning System coordinates of the alert gateway.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the alert comprises urgent public information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the urgent public information is selected from a group consisting of an Emergency Alert System transmission, an Amber Alert, a severe weather notification, and a Homeland Security Advisory notification.

19. In a relationship between a telecommunication provider and a plurality of subscribers, an alert distribution device for determining an appropriate set of addresses to which to distribute an alert, the device comprising:

at least one interface member in communication with a communication network;

a processor in communication with the at least one interface member; and

a storage medium in communication with the processor, the storage medium comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

maintain a directory of alert gateways, the directory comprising a plurality of directory entries, each directory entry being associated with a particular alert gateway and comprising at least one gateway characteristic associated with that alert gateway, the gateway characteristic including information to enable the alert distribution device to determine whether a given alert should be transmitted to the alert gateway;

maintain a distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways, the distribution address for a particular alert gateway providing sufficient identifying information about that alert gateway to allow an alert to be transmitted to the alert gateway;

associate the at least one gateway characteristic for a particular alert gateway with the distribution address for that particular alert gateway;

receive an alert via the at least one interface member, the alert being configured to describe an event and having associated information about the alert comprising event information characterizing the event, wherein said event information includes information related to specific details about the event;

identify, based on the event information, a set of selection criteria for determining which of the plurality of alert gateways should receive the alert;

search the directory for at least one directory entry comprising a gateway characteristic corresponding to the identified selection criteria;

identify, based on the search, a set of at least one distribution address that should receive the alert, each member of the set of distribution addresses being associated with a directory entry comprising a gateway characteristic that corresponds to the identified selection criteria; and

format the alert into a message for the alert gateways to process for receipt by two or more subscribers with two or more types of subscriber equipment;

wherein the alert gateway is in communication with two or more different types of subscriber equipment, and is configured to analyze text of the event information to determine the urgency of the event and to determine to which of the two or more different types of subscriber equipment to provide the alert as a function of the urgency of the event information.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the alert gateway transmits the alert to the subscriber equipment.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the at least one gateway characteristic associated with each of the alert gateways comprises information about the geographic location of the alert gateway.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the information about the alert comprises geographic information about a geographic area to which the alert pertains, such that subscribers outside the geographic area would be relatively unlikely to be interested in receiving the alert.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the directory entry for each alert gateway comprises information about a distribution address for that alert gateway, and wherein maintaining a distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways comprises maintaining the information about the distribution address.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein the storage medium comprises a first database, the first database comprising the directory of alert gateways.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein storage medium comprises a second database, the second database comprising the distribution addresses associated with each of the alert gateways.

26. The device of claim 19, wherein the at least one gateway characteristic associated with an alert gateway comprises information selected from the group consisting of the area code in which the alert gateway is located, the ZIP code in which the alert gateway is located, the latitude and longitude coordinates of the alert gateway, the Global Positioning System coordinates of the alert gateway, demographic information about a subscriber associated with the alert gateway, and information about subscriber preferences held by a subscriber associated with the alert gateway.

27. The device of claim 19, wherein the alert comprises urgent public information.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the urgent public information is selected from a group consisting of an Emergency Alert System transmission, an Amber Alert, a severe weather notification, and a Homeland Security Advisory notification.

29. The device of claim 19, wherein the information about the alert is incorporated within the alert.

30. The device of claim 19, wherein the alert information about the alert is additional to the alert.

31. The device of claim 19, wherein the storage medium comprises further instructions executable by the processor to extract from the alert the information about the alert.

32. The device of claim 19, wherein the communication network is selected from a group consisting of a radio-frequency transmission, a telephone network, a cable television distribution network, the Internet, a fiber-optic network, a high-speed data network, a wireless network, and a microwave network.

33. The device of claim 19, wherein the communication network is a plurality of communication networks and wherein, for a particular distribution address, the device is configured to select the most appropriate communication network via which to transmit the alert information to the particular distribution address.

34. In a relationship between a telecommunication provider and a plurality of subscribers, a system for distributing an alert to an appropriate set of subscribers, the system comprising:

a plurality of alert gateways configured to receive an alert, each of the plurality of alert gateways being associated with at least one subscriber;

a communication network in communication with the plurality of alert gateways; and

an alert distribution device in communication with the communication network, the alert distribution device comprising;

at least one interface member in communication with the network;

a processor in communication with the at least one interface member; and

a storage medium in communication with the processor, the storage medium comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

maintain a directory of alert gateways, the directory comprising a plurality of directory entries, each directory entry being associated with a particular alert gateway and comprising at least one gateway characteristic associated with that alert gateway, the gateway characteristic including information to enable the alert distribution device to determine whether a given alert should be transmitted to the alert gateway;

maintain a distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways, the distribution address for a particular alert gateway providing sufficient identifying information about that alert gateway to allow an alert to be transmitted to the alert gateway;

associate the at least one gateway characteristic for a particular alert gateway with the distribution address for that particular alert gateway;

receive an alert via the at least one interface member, the alert being configured to describe an event and having associated information about the alert comprising event information characterizing the event, wherein said event information includes information related to specific details about the event;

identify, based on event information, a set of selection criteria for determining which of the plurality of alert gateways should receive the alert;

search the directory for at least one directory entry comprising a gateway characteristic corresponding to the identified selection criteria;

identify, based on the search, a set of at least one distribution address that should receive the alert, each member of the set of distribution addresses being associated with a directory entry comprising a gateway characteristic that corresponds to the identified selection criteria;

format the alert into a message for the alert gateways to process for receipt by two or more subscribers with two or more types of subscriber equipment; and

using the at least one interface member, transmit the alert via the network to a set of alert gateways, each member of the set of alert gateways being associated with a member of the set of distribution addresses;

wherein the alert gateway is in communication with two or more different types of subscriber equipment, and is configured to analyze text of the event information to determine the urgency of the event and to determine to which of the two or more different types of subscriber equipment to provide the alert as a function of the urgency of the event information.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the at least one gateway characteristic associated with each of the alert gateways comprises information about the geographic location of the alert gateway.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the information about the alert comprises geographic information about a geographic area to which the alert pertains, such that subscribers outside the geographic area would be relatively unlikely to be interested in receiving the alert.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the directory entry for each alert gateway comprises information about a distribution address for that alert gateway, and wherein maintaining a distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways comprises maintaining the information about the distribution address.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the storage medium comprises a first database, the first database comprising the directory of alert gateways.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the storage medium comprises a second database, the second database comprising the distribution addresses associated with each of the alert gateways.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the at least one gateway characteristic associated with an alert gateway comprises information selected from the group consisting of the area code in which the alert gateway is located, the ZIP code in which the alert gateway is located, the latitude and longitude coordinates of the alert gateway, the Global Positioning System coordinates of the alert gateway, demographic information about a subscriber associated with the alert gateway, and information about subscriber preferences held by a subscriber associated with the alert gateway.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert gateways is incorporated within a network interface device.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert gateways is in communication with a demarcation device.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the alert comprises urgent public information.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the urgent public information is selected from a group consisting of an Emergency Alert System transmission, an Amber Alert, a severe weather notification, and a Homeland Security Advisory notification.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the information about the alert is incorporated within the alert.

46. The system of claim 34, wherein the alert information about the alert is additional to the alert.

47. The system of claim 34, wherein the storage medium comprises further instructions executable by the processor to extract from the alert the information about the alert.

48. The system of claim 34, wherein the communication network is selected from a group consisting of a radio-frequency transmission, a telephone network, a cable television distribution network, the Internet, a fiber-optic network, a high-speed data network, a wireless network, and a microwave network.

49. The system of claim 34, wherein the communication network is a plurality of communication networks and wherein, for a particular distribution address, the alert distribution device is configured to select the most appropriate communication network via which to transmit the alert information to the particular distribution address.

50. In a relationship between a telecommunication provider and a plurality of subscribers, a system for distributing an alert to an appropriate set of subscribers, the system comprising:

a plurality of alert gateways configured to receive an alert, each of the plurality of alert gateways having a geographic location, and each of the plurality of alert gateways being associated with at least one subscriber;

a network configured to provide communication with the plurality of alert gateways; and

an alert distribution device comprising;

at least one interface member in communication with the network;

a processor in communication with the at least one interface member; and

a storage medium in communication with the processor, the storage medium comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

maintain a database of alert gateways, the database comprising a plurality of database records, each database record being associated with an alert gateway and comprising location information about the geographic location of that alert gateway;

maintain a distribution address associated with each of the alert gateways, the distribution address for an alert gateway providing sufficient identifying information about that alert gateway to allow an alert to be transmitted to the alert gateway;

associate the at least one gateway characteristic for a particular alert gateway with the distribution address for that particular alert gateway;

receive an alert via the at least one interface member, the alert being configured to describe an event and comprising event information characterizing the event including information about a geographic area to which the event pertains, such that subscribers outside the geographic area would be relatively unlikely to be interested in receiving the alert, wherein said event information further includes information related to specific details about the event;

identify, based on the event information and the information about the geographic area to which the alert pertains, a set of geographic criteria for determining which of the plurality of alert gateways should receive the alert;

search the database for at least one directory entry comprising location information meeting the set of geographic criteria;

identify, based on the search, a set of at least one distribution address that should receive the alert, each of the set of distribution addresses associated with a directory entry comprising location information meeting the set of geographic criteria;

using the at least one interface member, transmit the alert via the network to a set of alert gateways, each member of the set of alert gateways being associated with a member of the set of distribution addresses; and

format the alert into a message for the alert gateways to process for receipt by two or more subscribers with two or more types of subscriber equipment;

wherein the alert gateway is in communication with two or more different types of subscriber equipment, and is configured to analyze text of the event information to determine the urgency of the event and to determine to which of the two or more different types of subscriber equipment to provide the alert as a function of the urgency of the event information.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert gateways is incorporated within a network interface device.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein at least one of the plurality of alert gateways is in communication with a network interface device.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the alert comprises urgent public information.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the urgent public information is selected from a group consisting of an Emergency Alert System transmission, an Amber Alert, a severe weather notification, and a Homeland Security Advisory notification.

55. The system of claim 50, wherein the location information is selected from the group consisting of the area code in which the alert gateway is located, the ZIP code in which the alert gateway is located, the latitude and longitude coordinates of the alert gateway, and the Global Positioning System coordinates of the alert gateway.