Voice messaging system storage of emergency alert system warnings

• US 6,510,207 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cannon, Joseph M., Mooney, Philip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/340,667
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 379/48, 379/67.1, 379/88.12, 379/196, 379/215.01, 379/354, 379/38, 379/37, 379/39, 379/40, 379/41, 379/42, 379/43, 379/44, 379/45, 379/47, 379/51, 379/68
• US Class Current: 379/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form

Abstract

Apparatus and method to receive and record an Emergency Alert System warning message on a voice messaging system. A voice messaging system such as a telephone answering device includes an Emergency Alert System radio receiver and detector module to receive and record an Emergency Alert System warning message. The emergency message can be reviewed either locally or remotely. In another embodiment, an Emergency Alert System warning message is received by a telephone system, and played in the earpiece or speaker on a substantially real-time basis. In yet another embodiment, an Emergency Alert System warning message may be recorded and then forwarded to another location based on address information (e.g., telephone number, e-mail address, pager number, etc.) which would not otherwise be within the broadcast area of the original Emergency Alert System warning message.

Claims

1. A telephone system, comprising:

an audio recorder playback module;

an emergency broadcast radio receiver and detector module in communication with said audio recorder playback module;

a ring detect circuit adapted to be activated by said emergency broadcast radio receiver and detector module upon receipt of a broadcast emergency message; and

a telephone handset adapted to play said emergency message received by said emergency broadcast radio receiver;

wherein said audio recorder playback module is adapted to record an emergency message received by said emergency broadcast radio receiver.

2. The telephone system according to claim 1, wherein:

said emergency message includes an audio portion and a digital portion; and

said audio recorder playback module is adapted to record said audio portion of said emergency message received by said emergency broadcast radio receiver.

3. The telephone system according to claim 1, wherein:

said emergency message includes an audio portion and a digital portion;

said audio recorder playback module includes digital voice memory for storage of said emergency message; and

said audio recorder playback module is adapted to record said digital portion of said emergency message received by said emergency broadcast radio receiver.

4. The telephone system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a dual tone decoder in communication with said emergency broadcast radio receiver and detector module.

5. The telephone system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display adapted to visually indicate when said audio recorded playback module has recorded said emergency message.

6. The telephone system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display adapted to visually indicate an availability of an emergency message being broadcast.

7. The telephone system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a forwarding address memory adapted to contain a forwarding address as a forwarding destination for said recorded emergency message.

8. The telephone system according to claim 7, further comprising:

an automatic dialer to automatically access said forwarding address.

9. The telephone system according to claim 7, wherein:

said forwarding address includes a telephone number.

10. The telephone system according to claim 7, wherein:

said forwarding address includes a pager telephone number.

11. The telephone system according to claim 7, wherein:

said forwarding address includes an e-mail address.

12. A telephone system, comprising:

a telephone handset;

an audio recorder playback module;

an emergency broadcast radio receiver and detector module in communication with said audio recorder playback module; and

a ring detect circuit;

said emergency broadcast radio receiver and detector module being adapted to activate said ring detect circuit upon receipt of a broadcast emergency message; and

said telephone handset being adapted to play said emergency message received by said emergency broadcast radio receiver.

13. A method for receiving, recording and playing a broadcast emergency message, comprising:

receiving an emergency message by a radio receiver;

recording said emergency message in voice message memory of a telephone system for later retrieval and playback by a user;

activating a ring detection circuit upon receipt of said emergency message; and

playing said emergency message through a telephone handset.

14. The method for receiving, recording and playing a broadcast emergency message according to claim 13, further comprising:

indicating to said user that said emergency message has been recorded.

15. The method for receiving, recording and playing a broadcast emergency message according to claim 13, further comprising:

forwarding said recorded emergency message to a predetermined forwarding address.

16. The method for receiving, recording and playing a broadcast emergency message according to claim 13, wherein:

said forwarding address includes a telephone number.

17. The method for receiving, recording and playing a broadcast emergency message according to claim 13, wherein:

said forwarding address includes an e-mail address.

18. Apparatus for receiving, recording and playing a broadcast emergency message, comprising:

radio receiving means for receiving an emergency message;

means for recording said emergency message in voice message memory of a telephone system for later retrieval and playback by a user;

means for activating a ring detection circuit upon receipt of said emergency message; and

means for playing said emergency message through a telephone handset.