Method and apparatus for providing emergency information to a mobile receiving device

• US 7,720,431 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Sean S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse; Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US11/595,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20070149167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/3.01, 455/3.06, 455/66.1, 455/344, 455/427, 455/400.1, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/3.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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 4/06 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 4/90 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

A mobile wireless system (10) includes a transmitter such as a satellite (18) that broadcasts wireless signals such as boundaries for specific areas to a mobile receiving device (22). Mobile receiving device (22) may include an antenna (26) and a mobile receiving device (28). A locating receiver (50) is used to generate locating signals so that a determination may be made to the location of the mobile receiving device. When the location is outside an area of interest the area of interest may be extended to provide services to the mobile device. Emergency information is broadcast to a first area. An emergency announcement indicator is also broadcast into a first area and an area outside the first area. The location of the mobile receiving device is compared to the first area and the emergency information is displayed when the location is within the first area.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication system comprising:

broadcasting emergency information for a first area;

broadcasting an emergency announcement indicator for the first area into the first area and a second area outside the first area;

receiving the emergency information and the emergency announcement indicator at a mobile receiving device;

determining a location of the mobile receiving device;

comparing the location and the emergency announcement indicator; and

displaying emergency information at the mobile receiving device when the location is within the first area determined in response to comparing.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying comprises displaying audio information.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein displaying comprises displaying video information.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising broadcasting tuning information.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein broadcasting tuning information and broadcasting the emergency announcement are at a common source with a common transmission method.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein broadcasting tuning information comprises broadcasting tuning information from a satellite.

7. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein broadcasting tuning information comprises broadcasting tuning information from a terrestrial antenna.

8. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein broadcasting tuning information comprises broadcasting tuning information from a terrestrial RF source.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the RF source comprises a terrestrial radio source.

10. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein broadcasting tuning information comprises broadcasting tuning information from a wireless network.

11. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein broadcasting tuning information comprises broadcasting tuning information from a cellular network.

12. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising automatically controlling the mobile receiving device in response to the tuning information.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein automatically controlling comprises tuning to an emergency channel broadcasting the emergency information.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting emergency information comprises broadcasting traffic information, weather information or hazardous material information.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting emergency information comprises broadcasting emergency information from an emergency information source separate from an emergency announcement indicator source.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting an emergency announcement indicator comprises satellite broadcasting the emergency announcement indicator.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile receiving device comprises a mobile phone.

18. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile receiving device comprises a personal electronic device.

19. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving from a satellite.

20. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting emergency information comprises broadcasting emergency information from a terrestrial source.

21. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting emergency information comprises broadcasting emergency information from a satellite.

22. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein broadcasting emergency information comprises broadcasting emergency information from a stratospheric platform.

23. A method of operating a mobile receiving device comprising:

receiving a broadcast signal at the mobile receiving device;

receiving an emergency announcement indicator and tuning information for a first area at the mobile receiving device;

determining a location of the mobile receiving device;

comparing the location and the emergency announcement indicator;

tuning the mobile receiving device to receive emergency information corresponding to the tuning information in response to comparing; and

displaying the emergency information at the mobile receiving device.

24. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein displaying comprises displaying audio information.

25. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein displaying comprises displaying video information.

26. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein tuning the receiver comprises automatically tuning the receiver.

27. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein displaying comprises audibly displaying.

28. A method as recited in claim 23 wherein displaying comprises visually displaying.

29. A communication system comprising:

an emergency broadcasting source broadcasting emergency information for a first area;

a broadcast announcement source broadcasting an emergency announcement indicator for the first area into the first area and a second area outside the first area;

a display; and

a mobile receiving device coupled to the display and having a location receiver generating location information, and controlling a display in response to the data, comparing the location and the emergency announcement indicator and causing the emergency information to be displayed when the location corresponds to the emergency announcement indicator.

30. A communication system as recited in claim 29 wherein the emergency broadcast source is the same as the emergency announcement source.

31. A communication system as recited in claim 29 wherein the emergency broadcast source is different than the emergency announcement source.