Emergency alert data delivery apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A client device configured to receive and display media and alert content from a content delivery network having at least one digital media server associated therewith, said client device comprising:
- a receiver configured to receive said media content and said alert content from said at least one digital media server, said alert content being transcoded by said at least one digital media server into a format capable of display on said client device prior to delivery thereto; and
a display device configured to display said media content and, upon receipt of said alert content open at least one new window for display thereof;
wherein said alert content comprises a video portion and at least one of a text and/or audio portion, and said receiver is further configured to receive said video portion via a first packet stream different than a second packet stream carrying said text and/or audio portion, said first packet stream sourced from a first entity of said network that is different from a second entity from which said second packet stream is sourced.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for efficiently and flexibly providing emergency alert data (e.g., EAS messages) to subscribers of a content-based network, such as for example Internet protocol television (IPTV) subscribers. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a server performing real-time receipt and encapsulation of the EAS data (which may comprise audio, video, and/or text), transport of the EAS data to client devices over the network, and use of one or more applications running on the client devices to decode and display/present the EAS data in a manner which effectively guarantees that it will be perceived by the viewer. In one variant, instant messaging (IM) infrastructure is used to authenticate clients and receive and display at least portion of the EAS data via a separate transport process. Server and client-side apparatus adapted for EAS data receipt, decoding and display are also disclosed.
90 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A client device configured to receive and display media and alert content from a content delivery network having at least one digital media server associated therewith, said client device comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive said media content and said alert content from said at least one digital media server, said alert content being transcoded by said at least one digital media server into a format capable of display on said client device prior to delivery thereto; and a display device configured to display said media content and, upon receipt of said alert content open at least one new window for display thereof; wherein said alert content comprises a video portion and at least one of a text and/or audio portion, and said receiver is further configured to receive said video portion via a first packet stream different than a second packet stream carrying said text and/or audio portion, said first packet stream sourced from a first entity of said network that is different from a second entity from which said second packet stream is sourced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network server apparatus for selectively providing alert data to a plurality of client devices over a packet-switched network, said apparatus comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive said alert data in a first format, said first format comprising a format which said plurality of client devices are not capable of rendering; and
said alert data comprising at least a video portion and at least one of an audio or text portion; anda processor configured to execute at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed; transcode said alert data from said first format to a second format, said second format comprising a format which said plurality of client devices are capable of rendering; receive one or more authentication requests from individual ones of said plurality of client devices; based at least in part on information received with said one or more authentication requests, authenticate certain ones of said plurality of client devices; transmit said transcoded alert data to said authenticated ones of said plurality of client devices; and cause rendering of at least a portion of said transcoded alert data on said authenticated ones of said plurality of client devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A client device in communication with at least one digital media server of a content delivery network, said client device comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive primary content and emergency-related secondary content from said server, said emergency-related secondary content comprising a video and an audio portion and said emergency-related secondary content being transcoded by said server to a format usable by said client device; a transmitter configured to, in response to said receipt of said emergency-related secondary content, transmit to said at least one server an authentication communication; and at least one display device capable of display said primary content and said emergency-related secondary content; wherein said receiver is further configured to receive instruction from said at least one server, said instruction having been issued upon authentication by said server based at least on the authentication communication, said instruction configured to facilitate said client device in; (i) rendering of said video portion of said emergency-related secondary content on said display device; and (ii) presentation of said audio portion of said emergency-related secondary content. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification