System and method for emergency communications through a set-top box

• US 8,584,189 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Emerson, David E., Lafreniere, Gary W., Goergen, Michael S., Lando, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chokshi, Pinkal R
• Application Number:
  US12/482,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20100319021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 725/33, 725/78, 725/80, 725/81, 725/108, 725/110, 725/118, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153, 340/539.26, 379/45, 455/404.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 725/108
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/59 for emergency or urgency
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/52 of users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A system and method for sending an emergency communication from a set-top box. A user and location of the user is associated with the set-top box. An indicator of an emergency is received through the set-top box. The user and the location associated with the set-top box are determined in response to receiving the indicator. A database returns the user and the location utilizing an identifier of the set-top box. An emergency communication is sent indicating the location through a media network in communication with the set-top box.

Claims

1. A method for sending an emergency communication from a set-top box, the method comprising:

associating a user and a location of the user with the set-top box;

receiving an indicator of an emergency utilizing the set-top box, wherein the indicator is enabled to be generated utilizing (1) sensors integrated with the set-top box, and (2) user input received through a menu presented to the user by the set-top box, wherein the menu presents the user options to select between an emergency interface and a self-help menu, wherein the emergency interface is configured to receive the indicator, and wherein the self-help menu provides a nested menu to allow the user to indicate a nature of emergency and displays associated content to assist the user in dealing with the emergency;

determining the user and the location associated with the set-top box in response to receiving the indicator;

generating an emergency communication as a discrete message utilizing the set-top box in response to receiving the indicator, wherein the emergency communication indicates the user and the location associated with the set-top box if determinable; and

sending the emergency communication from the set-top box as the discrete message, wherein the emergency communication is sent as the discrete message through a media network in communication with the set-top box in response to receiving the indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing the emergency communication to an emergency service provider associated with the location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating is performed during installation or maintenance of a service associated with the set-top box.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a database of a communications management system adds the user and the location utilizing an identifier of the set-top box in response to being unable to determine the user and the location associated with the set-top box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating, receiving, determining, generating and sending are performed by the set-top box.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating, receiving, determining, generating and sending are performed by a communications management system managing the media network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is received through a graphical user interface displayed to the user by the set-top box.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is a user selection of a channel associated with emergency communications and confirmation indicating the emergency.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the associating is performed utilizing an identifier of the set-top box.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the set-top box sends the emergency communication through a satellite transceiver in communication with the set-top box.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving input from the user providing information about the emergency; and

displaying a menu with information for addressing the emergency in response to the input.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors detect a fire, sudden acceleration, excessive water, or toxic gas.

13. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

generating an emergency message at the communication managements system, the emergency message being routed to an emergency service provider in response to receiving the emergency communication and performing the associating.

14. A emergency communication system, the system comprising:

one or more media networks operable to communicate an emergency communication;

a set-top box operable to communicate with the one or more media networks, the set-top box being operable to communicate media content to a display for display to a user, receive an indicator of an emergency, generate the emergency communication as a discrete message, and send the emergency communication as the discrete message from the set-top box through the one or more media networks, wherein the indicator is enabled to be generated by the set-top box utilizing (1) sensors integrated with the set-top box, and (2) user input received through a menu presented to the user by the set-top box, wherein the menu presents the user options to select between an emergency interface and a self-help menu, wherein the emergency interface is configured to receive the indicator, and wherein the self-help menu provides a nested menu to allow the user to indicate a nature of emergency and displays associated content to assist the user in dealing with the emergency; and

a communications management system in communication with the set-top box through the media network, the communications management system being operable to receive the emergency communication from the user, add user information and location information associated with the set-top box to the emergency communication, and send the emergency communication as the discrete message to an emergency service provider associated with a location of the user determined from the location information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the communications management system adds the user information and location information utilizing an identifier of the set-top box in response to determining the user information and location information is not included in the emergency communication when received.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the communications management system includes a database for associating the identifier with the user information and the location information.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the indicator is received by the set-top box in response to the user tuning the set-top box to a channel associated with emergency communications and confirming the emergency.

18. A set-top box for sending emergency communications comprising:

a user interface operable to receive user input indicating an emergency;

sensors integrated with the set-top box operable to detect the emergency;

emergency logic in communication with the user interface, wherein the emergency logic is operable to determine user information and location information associated with the set-top box and generate an emergency communication as a discrete message indicating the user information, the location information, and the emergency, and wherein the user interface provides the user options to select between an emergency interface and a menu, wherein the emergency interface is configured to receive an indicator of the emergency, and wherein the menu including a self-help menu that allows the user to indicate a nature of emergency and displays associated content to assist the user in dealing with the emergency; and

a transceiver in communication with the emergency logic, the transceiver being operable to send the emergency communication from the set-top box as the discrete message to one or more media networks for routing to an emergency service provider serving a location of the user.

19. The set-top box according to claim 18, further comprising:

a database in communication with the user interface, wherein the self-help menu is operable to display information for addressing the emergency including one or more nested self-help menus, and wherein the discrete message is at least one of an email message or a text message.

20. The set-top box according to claim 18, wherein the sensors are operable to detect a fire, excessive water, or toxic gas.

21. The set-top box according to claim 18, wherein a communications management system in communication with the set-top box through the one or more media networks is operable to verify the user information and the location information, wherein the location information indicates driving directions and instructions for accessing a location of service of the set-top box.