Donut alert messaging

• US 8,688,071 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Daly, Brian Kevin, Sennett, DeWayne A., Musgrove, Charles Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US13/712,488
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/90.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/456.3, 455/456.5
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• 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 4/90 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

Different emergency alert messages may be provided to different mobile devices within a common geographic region subdivided into a plurality of inner regions. Each inner region may have different emergency alert messages and may be geographically located inside another region.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, first information for a first emergency alert area, the first information comprising a geographic boundary of the first emergency alert area;

receiving, by the computer, second information for a second emergency alert area, wherein the second emergency alert area is geographically located within the first emergency alert area;

receiving, by the computer, device information associated with a device, the device information comprising location information of the device;

determining an area in which the device is located based on the device information, the area comprising one of the first emergency alert area or the second emergency alert area;

determining an emergency alert message for the device based on the determined area, the emergency alert message comprising a map of a current position of the device, a current emergency alert area, and a forecast emergency alert area; and

providing instructions to send the emergency alert message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second emergency alert area has a perimeter that does not cross a perimeter of the first emergency alert area.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a first alert message for the first emergency alert area; and

generating a second alert message for the second emergency alert area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first emergency alert area and the second emergency alert area are nested.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein device information comprises at least one of:

direction of movement of the device, and

speed of movement of the device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first emergency alert area and the second emergency alert area are based on at least one of:

an adverse weather condition, a natural disaster, or a terrorist attack.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency alert message comprises at least one of:

an escape route, a stay in shelter message, an evacuate message, or a stay away message.

8. A device comprising:

a processor; and

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

receiving first information for a first emergency alert area, the first information comprising a geographic boundary of the first emergency alert area;

receiving second information for a second emergency alert area, wherein the second emergency alert area is geographically located within the first emergency alert area;

receiving mobile device information associated with a mobile device, the mobile device information comprising location information of the mobile device;

determining an area in which the mobile device is located based on the mobile device information, the area comprising the first emergency alert area or the second emergency alert area;

determining an emergency alert message for the mobile device based on the determined area, the emergency alert message comprising a map of a current position of the mobile device, a current emergency alert area, and a forecast emergency alert area; and

providing instructions to send the emergency alert message.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second emergency alert area has a perimeter that does not cross a perimeter of the first emergency alert area.

10. The device of claim 8, further comprising:

generating a first alert message for the first emergency alert area; and

generating a second alert message for the second emergency alert area.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the first emergency alert area and the second emergency alert area are nested.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein device information comprises at least one of:

direction of movement of the mobile device, and

speed of movement of the mobile device.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the first emergency alert area and the second emergency alert area are based on at least one of:

an adverse weather condition, a natural disaster, or a terrorist attack.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the emergency alert message comprises at least one of:

an escape route,

a stay in shelter message,

an evacuate message, or

a stay away message.

15. A system comprising:

a mobile device;

a processor communicatively connected with the mobile device; and

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

receiving first information for a first emergency alert area, the first information comprising a geographic boundary of the first emergency alert area;

receiving second information for a second emergency alert area, wherein the second emergency alert area is geographically located within the first emergency alert area;

receiving device information associated with the mobile device, the device information comprising location information of the mobile device;

determining an area in which the mobile device is located based on the device information, the area comprising the first emergency alert area or the second emergency alert area;

determining an emergency alert message for the mobile device based on the determined area, the emergency alert message comprising a map of a current position of the mobile device, a current emergency alert area, and a forecast emergency alert area; and

providing instructions to send the emergency alert message.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first emergency alert area and the second emergency alert area are nested.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the mobile device periodically receives a plurality of emergency alert messages and renders at least one of the received plurality of emergency alert messages based on the location information of the mobile device.