Dynamic voice-based emergency notification

• US 8,565,713 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2011
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sennett, Dewayne, Daly, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US13/094,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20120276864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A dynamic voice-based emergency notification system (ENS) provides wireless operators the ability to manage and deliver voice-based ENS services to subscribers within an alert area who are serviced by the wireless operator. The ENS services are provided efficiently with minimal impact to other wireless subscribers. In an example embodiment, only wireless devices, including any visitors or roamers, within the alert area receive ENS notifications.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an emergency notification message comprising a voice based message and an indication of an alert area;

receiving an indication of cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area;

receiving an indication of respective mobile switching centers associated with the cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area;

receiving an indication of communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center;

comparing the indication of mobile switching centers associated with the cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area with the communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center to determine communications devices within the alert area;

receiving an indication of a maximum number of voice based alert messages that can be concurrently provided; and

providing the voice based message to the communications devices within the alert area within the limits of the maximum number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of utilization for cell sites and sectors providing coverage to the alert area;

receiving an indication of maximum threshold utilization for cell sites and sectors providing coverage to the alert area; and

providing the voice based message to the communications devices within the alert area within the limits of the maximum threshold utilization.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency notification message comprises an indication of an expiration date and time of the emergency notification message, the method further comprising:

repeatedly providing the voice based message to the communications devices within the alert area until the expiration date and time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an updated indication of communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center;

comparing the updated indication of mobile switching centers associated with the cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area with the communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center to determine updated communications devices within the alert area; and

providing the voice based message to the updated communications devices within the alert area.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a list of candidate communications devices to be provided the voice based message;

removing from the list, communications devices to which attempted delivery of an emergency notification message was unsuccessful;

maintaining on the list communications devices to which attempted delivery of an emergency notification message was successful; and

utilizing the list to determine which communications devices to provide the voice based message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising updating the list with communications devices that enter the alert area.

7. A dynamic emergency notification server comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving an emergency notification message comprising a voice based message and an indication of an alert area;

receiving an indication of cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area;

receiving an indication of respective mobile switching centers associated with the cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area;

receiving an indication of communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center;

comparing the indication of mobile switching centers associated with the cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area with the communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center to determine communications devices within the alert area;

receiving an indication of a maximum number of voice based alert messages that can be concurrently provided; and

providing the voice based message to communications devices within the alert area within the limits of the maximum number.

8. The dynamic emergency notification server of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

receiving an indication of utilization for cell sites and sectors providing coverage to the alert area;

receiving an indication of maximum threshold utilization for cell sites and sectors providing coverage to the alert area; and

providing the voice based message to the communications devices within the alert area within the limits of the maximum threshold utilization.

9. The dynamic emergency notification server of claim 7, wherein the emergency notification message comprises an indication of an expiration date and time of the emergency notification message, the operations further comprising:

repeatedly providing the voice based message to the communications devices within the alert area until the expiration date and time.

10. The dynamic emergency notification server of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

receiving an updated indication of communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center;

comparing the updated indication of mobile switching centers associated with the cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area with the communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center to determine the updated communications devices within the alert area; and

providing the voice based message to updated communications devices within the alert area.

11. The dynamic emergency notification server of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

generating a list of candidate communications devices to be provided the voice based message;

removing from the list, communications devices to which attempted delivery of an emergency notification message was unsuccessful;

maintaining on the list communications devices to which attempted delivery of an emergency notification message was successful; and

utilizing the list to determine which communications devices to provide the voice based message.

12. The dynamic emergency notification server of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

updating the list with communications devices that enter the alert area.

13. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving an emergency notification message comprising a voice based message and an indication of an alert area;

receiving an indication of cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area;

receiving an indication of respective mobile switching centers associated with the cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area;

receiving an indication of communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center;

comparing the indication of mobile switching centers associated with the cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area with the communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center to determine communications devices within the alert area;

receiving an indication of a maximum number of voice based alert messages that can be concurrently provided; and

providing the voice based message to the communications devices within the alert area within the limits of the maximum number.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

receiving an indication of utilization for cell sites and sectors providing coverage to the alert area;

receiving an indication of maximum threshold utilization for cell sites and sectors providing coverage to the alert area; and

providing the voice based message to the communications devices within the alert area within the limits of the maximum threshold utilization.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the emergency notification message comprises an indication of an expiration date and time of the emergency notification message, the operations further comprising:

repeatedly providing the voice based message to the communications devices within the alert area until the expiration date and time.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

receiving an updated indication of communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center;

comparing the updated indication of mobile switching centers associated with the cell sites that provide coverage to the alert area with the communications devices registered with each respective mobile switching center to determine updated communications devices within the alert area; and

providing the voice based message to the updated communications devices within the alert area.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the operations further comprising:

generating a list of candidate communications devices to be provided the voice based message;

removing from the list, communications devices to which attempted delivery of an emergency notification message was unsuccessful;

maintaining on the list communications devices to which attempted delivery of an emergency notification message was successful;

utilizing the list to determine which communications devices to provide the voice based message; and

updating the list with communications devices that enter the alert area.