Distribution of enterprise related alerts via the emergency alert system

• US 8,521,710 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daly, Brian Kevin, Sennett, DeWayne Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kerzhner, Aleksandr
• Application Number:
  US13/606,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20120326858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 707/705, 707/999.107
• US Class Current: 707/705
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Enterprise related alert messages are distributed via the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The enterprise community (e.g., a company, a business, or a firm, a school, a corporation, a department of transportation, a law enforcement agency, commuter service, or the like) is provide the ability to distribute enterprise related information via the EAS. Enterprise related alerts can be generated automatically, semi-automatically, and/or manually. Enterprise related alerts can be used to notify TV and radio broadcasters.

Claims

1. A machine readable storage medium that is not a transient signal per se, the machine readable storage medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by a processor perform operations comprising:

receiving an indication of an enterprise related alert;

receiving an indication of at least one alert area in which to provide the indication of the enterprise related alert;

analyzing the indication of the enterprise related alert to determine if distribution of the enterprise related alert message is warranted by

determining a number of detections reported by a sensor; and

determining a time interval in which the number of detections reported by the sensor occurred; and

if the determined number of detections is equal to or greater than a first threshold of sensor detections and the determined time interval is less than or equal to a second threshold interval;

generating, via the processor, the enterprise related alert message comprising enterprise specific information comprising an identification of an enterprise and an indication of an alert type, wherein the enterprise related alert message is formatted for compliance with the emergency alert system; and

providing the enterprise related alert message for broadcast using the emergency alert system to the at least one alert area.

2. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the enterprise comprises at least one of a company, a business, a firm, a school, a corporation, a department of transportation, a law enforcement agency, or a commuter service.

3. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the enterprise specific information further comprises at least one of an enterprise name or an enterprise facility location identifier.

4. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the alert type is indicative of an effect upon operations of the enterprise.

5. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting the enterprise related alert message via at least one cellular site covering at least one of the at least one alert area.

6. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the indication of the enterprise related alert is initiated manually by an entity of the enterprise.

7. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the indication of the enterprise related alert is automatically initiated via the sensor at the enterprise.

8. The machine readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein:

the indication of the enterprise related alert is initiated via the sensor at the enterprise; and

the enterprise related alert message is authorized by an entity of the enterprise prior to providing the enterprise related alert message for broadcast to the at least one alert area.

9. The machine readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the indication of the enterprise related alert is initiated via the sensor at the enterprise, the method further comprising:

determining if authorization is required prior to generating the enterprise related alert message; and

if authorization is required, obtaining the authorization prior to generating the enterprise related alert message.

20. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the alert type is indicative of an effect upon operations of the enterprise.

10. A mobile device comprising:

memory comprising at least one executable instruction; and

a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the at least one executable instruction to perform operations comprising;

receiving an enterprise related alert message comprising an indication of an enterprise and an indication of an alert type, wherein;

the enterprise related alert message is formatted for compliance with an emergency alert system;

the enterprise related alert message is provided via a broadcast using the emergency alert system;

receipt of the enterprise related alert message is indicative of an enterprise related alert being analyzed to determine that distribution of the enterprise related alert message was warranted based on;

a number of detections reported by a sensor being equal to or greater than a first threshold of sensor detections; and

a determined time interval in which the number of detections was reported is less than or equal to a second threshold interval; and

rendering an indication of the enterprise related alert message.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the enterprise comprises at least one of a company, a business, or a firm, a school, a corporation, a department of transportation, a law enforcement agency, or a commuter service.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the enterprise related alert message comprises at least one of an enterprise name or an enterprise facility location identifier.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the enterprise alert type is indicative of an effect upon operations of the enterprise.

14. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the indication of the enterprise related alert is initiated manually by an entity of the enterprise.

15. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the enterprise related alert is automatically initiated via a sensor at the enterprise.

16. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein:

the enterprise related alert message is automatically initiated via a sensor at the enterprise; and

the enterprise related alert message is authorized by an entity of the enterprise prior to providing the enterprise related alert message for broadcast to the at least one alert area.

17. A processor-implemented method comprising:

receiving an indication of an enterprise related alert;

analyzing the indication of the enterprise related alert to determine if distribution of the enterprise related alert message is warranted by determining a time interval in which a number of detections reported by a sensor occurred; and

if the number of detections reported by the sensor is equal to or greater than a first threshold and the determined time interval is less than or equal to a second threshold interval;

generating, via the processor, the enterprise related alert message comprising an identification of an enterprise and an indication of an alert type, wherein the enterprise related alert message is formatted for compliance with the emergency alert system; and

providing the enterprise related alert message for broadcast using the emergency alert system to the at least one alert area.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the enterprise comprises at least one of a company, a business, a firm, a school, a corporation, a department of transportation, a law enforcement agency, or a commuter service.

19. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein the enterprise related alert message comprises at least one of an enterprise name or an enterprise facility location identifier.