Systems and methods for activating a security system upon receipt of emergency alert messages

• US 8,526,909 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• 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): Daniel, Jr., Willie J
• Application Number:
  US12/056,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/71 Wireless systems
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

An Emergency Alert System (EAS) alert message may be used to activate a security system. For example, a mobile device of a subscriber may receive an EAS alert message from a network provider of the mobile device. Upon receipt of the EAS alert message, the mobile device may send an indication of the EAS message to the security system. A component of the security system may be activated to provide notification of the EAS alert message to the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a mobile device, a broadcasted alert message;

responsive to receiving the broadcasted alert message;

determining whether the mobile device is configured to render the received broadcasted alert message;

determining if a current time is indicative of a time range during which a security system is to be activated, wherein the mobile device and the security system are separate entities;

determining a current location of the mobile device;

determining a current location of the security system;

determining if the current location of the mobile device and the current location of the security system are within a range of locations wherein the security system is to be activated; and

activating the security system, via the mobile device, for providing notification of the broadcasted alert message via the security system, when it is determined that;

the mobile device is not configured to render the received broadcasted alert message;

the current time is indicative of a time range during which the security system is to be activated; and

the current locations of the mobile device and the security system are within a range of locations wherein the security system is to be activated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the security system comprises activating a component associated with the security system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the component comprises at least one of the following:

an alarm component, an intercom component, and a light component.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the component associated with the security system comprises providing an activation indication of the broadcasted alert message to the component, wherein the activation indication activates the component.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein activating the component associated with the security system comprises providing the broadcasted alert message to the component, wherein the component renders the broadcasted alert message.

6. A mobile device comprising:

a communication component for providing communication between the mobile device and a security system, wherein the mobile device and the security system are separate entities;

a processor in operative communication with the communication component, wherein the processor is configured to;

receive, via the communication component, a broadcasted alert message;

determine whether the mobile device is configured to render the received broadcasted alert message;

responsive to receiving the broadcasted alert message;

determine if a current time is indicative of a time range during which a security system is to be activated;

determine a current location of the mobile device;

determining a current location of the security system;

determine if the current location of the mobile device and the current location of the security system are within a range of locations wherein the security system is to be activated; and

provide, via the communication component, an activation notification of the received broadcasted alert message to the security system for providing notification of the broadcasted alert message via the security system, when it is determined that;

the mobile device is not configured to render the received broadcasted alert message;

the current time is indicative of a time range during which the security system is to be activated; and

the current locations of the mobile device and the security system are within a range of locations wherein the security system is to be activated.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether a component of the mobile device is incapable of rendering the broadcasted alert message received from the network provider.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the component comprises at least one of a speaker, a display, or a light.

9. The mobile device of claim 6, further comprising a storage module in communication with the processor, wherein the storage module comprises a configuration stored therein, wherein the configuration indicates one or more alert messages the mobile device is capable of rendering.

10. The mobile device in of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the mobile device is incapable of rendering the broadcasted alert message by comparing a broadcast message type of the broadcasted alert message with the alert message types in the configuration.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the notification of the broadcasted alert message is provided, via the communication component, to the security system if, based on the comparison, the broadcast message type corresponds to one of the alert message types in the configuration.

12. A computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving, at a mobile device, a broadcasted alert message;

responsive to receiving the broadcasted alert message;

determining whether the mobile device is configured to render the received broadcasted alert message;

determining if a current time is indicative of a time range during which a security system is to be activated, wherein the mobile device and the security system are separate entities;

determining a current location of the mobile device;

determining a current location of the security system;

determining if the current location of the mobile device and the current location of the security system are within a range of locations wherein the security system is to be activated; and

activating the security system, via the mobile device, for providing notification of the broadcasted alert message via the security system, when it is determined that;

the mobile device is not configured to render the received broadcasted alert message;

the current time is indicative of a time range during which the security system is to be activated; and

the current locations of the mobile device and the security system are within a range of locations wherein the security system is to be activated.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein activating the security system comprises activating a component associated with the security system.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the component comprises at least one of the following:

an alarm component, an intercom component, and a light component.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein activating the component associated with the security system comprises providing an activation indication of the broadcasted alert message to the component, wherein the activation indication activates the component.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein activating the component associated with the security system comprises providing the broadcasted alert message to the component, wherein the component renders the broadcasted alert message.