Emergency alert initiation via a mobile device

• US 8,559,989 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• 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): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US13/608,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20130005293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/452.1, 455/456.1, 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling 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

Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for initiating an emergency alert system alert from a mobile device. In addition to the general system, methods and computer readable medium for such initiating of an emergency alert system alert from a mobile device the process may further implement receiving multiple such emergency alert system alert initiation messages and combining them to determine a more accurate location area of the emergency.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by equipment, a first message indicative of an emergency alert broadcast message to be broadcast, wherein said first message comprises a payload and at least one credential;

rejecting the first message when validating each credential fails;

when validating each credential is successful, sending, from the equipment, a second message comprising the payload and an indication that the emergency alert broadcast message should be broadcast to at least one broadcast tower within a first range of a first location;

receiving a third message indicative of a second emergency alert broadcast message to be broadcast, wherein;

said third message comprises a second payload and at least one second credential and the first range; and

a location of said third message overlaps the first range and the first location;

rejecting the third message if validating each of the at least one second credential fails; and

sending a fourth message comprising the second payload and an indication that the second emergency alert broadcast message should be broadcast to at least one broadcast tower, wherein said broadcast tower did not receive the first message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message further comprises at least one of a text message, a voice message, an instant message, or a multi-media message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first message is sent from a mobile device; and

the mobile device comprises at least one of a personal data assistant, a cellular telephone, a computer, or a land-mobile radio.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message is received from an electronic sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an emergency alert system message.

6. A system comprising:

circuitry configured to receive a first message indicative of an emergency alert broadcast message to be broadcast, wherein said first message comprises a payload and at least one credential;

circuitry configured to reject the first message when validating each credential fails;

circuitry configured to send, when validating each credential is successful, a second message comprising the payload and an indication that the emergency alert broadcast message should be broadcast to at least one broadcast tower within a first range of a first location;

circuitry configured to receive a third message indicative of a second emergency alert broadcast message to be broadcast, wherein;

the third message comprises a second payload and at least one second credential; and

a range and location of said third message overlaps the first range and the first location; and

circuitry configured to reject the third message if validating each of the at least one second credential fails; and

circuitry configured to send a fourth message comprising the second payload and an indication that the second emergency alert broadcast message should be broadcast to at least one broadcast tower, wherein said broadcast tower did not receive the first message.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

circuitry configured to compare a time and type of emergency of the third message with other times and types of emergencies; and

circuitry configured to send the payload of the third message to each broadcast tower that the payload of the first message was not sent to if the time of the third message is within a given time period of a time and the type of emergency of the third message is the same as a type of another emergency.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the third message comprises an emergency alert system message.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the first message is received from an electronic sensor.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the first message is sent from a mobile device; and

the mobile device comprises at least one of a personal data assistant, a cellular telephone, a computer, or a land-mobile radio.

11. A computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium in not a transient signal per se, the computer readable storage medium including computer readable instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving a first message indicative of an emergency alert broadcast message to be broadcast, wherein said first message comprises a payload and at least one credential;

instructions for rejecting the first message when validating each credential fails;

when validating each credential is successful, sending, from the equipment, a second message comprising the payload and an indication that the emergency alert broadcast message should be broadcast to at least one broadcast tower within a first range of a first location;

instructions for receiving a third message indicative of a second emergency alert broadcast message to be broadcast, wherein;

said third message comprises a second payload and at least one second credential and the first range; and

a location of said third message overlaps the first range and the first location;

instructions for rejecting the third message if validating each of the at least one second credential fails; and

instructions for sending a fourth message comprising the second payload and an indication that the second emergency alert broadcast message should be broadcast to at least one broadcast tower, wherein said broadcast tower did not receive the first message.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the emergency alert broadcast message comprises an emergency alert system message.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first message is received from an electronic sensor.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein:

the payload is sent from a mobile device; and

the mobile device comprises a personal data assistant, a cellular telephone, a computer, and a land-mobile radio.