Patent ID: 6867688
Filing Date: 2005-03-15
Classification: G01W,G08B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for providing location-specific alert information associated with an alert condition relevant to a geographical area, the location-specific alert information being broadcast within the geographical area by at least one transmitter of a wireless bi-directional communication network having a plurality of communication channels and a plurality of transmitters which are each positioned to provide communication services to specific geographical areas serviced by the communication network, said apparatus comprising: a receiver adapted to receive transmissions on a communication channel of the plurality of communication channels of the wireless bi-directional communication network; a peripheral device operable to indicate an alert condition; and, a controller communicatively connected to said receiver and said peripheral device, said controller being operable to continuously monitor a communication channel of the wireless bi-directional communication network for the receipt of a transmission of location-specific alert information from a transmitter servicing a specific geographical area and to operate said peripheral device in response to the reception of a transmission of location-specific alert information; wherein said controller is further operable to monitor said communication channel of said wireless bi-directional network for the receipt of a preferred system provider message and to update a preferred system provider list, based at least in part, on the reception of the preferred system provider message.