Patent Publication Number: US-2009235306-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for receiving emergency alert signals

Description:
The present invention generally relates to apparatuses such as a television signal receiver and/or modem which provide an emergency alert function, and more particularly, to techniques for receiving emergency alert signals using such apparatuses. 
     Emergency events such as severe weather, natural disasters, fires, civil emergencies, war acts, toxic chemical spills, radiation leaks, or other such conditions can be devastating to unprepared individuals. With weather-related emergencies, authorities such as the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are generally able to detect severe weather conditions prior to the general public. Through the use of modern weather detection devices, such as Doppler radar and weather satellites, the NWS and NOAA are able to issue early warnings of severe weather conditions which have saved many lives. However, for such warnings to be effective, they must be communicated to their intended recipients. 
     With certain apparatuses such as television signal receivers, warnings for emergency events may be provided when the receiver is tuned to a particular channel which provides such warnings. For example, in any given geographical area, certain local channels may provide information regarding emergency events affecting that geographical area. However, if a viewer is not tuned to such a local channel when an emergency event occurs, the viewer may not be notified of the emergency event, and may therefore be placed in a potentially dangerous situation. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method for providing notification of emergency events which avoids the foregoing problems, and thereby increases the likelihood that users are promptly notified of emergency events. The present invention addresses these and other issues. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a television signal receiver having an emergency alert function is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the television signal receiver comprises first tuning means for tuning a first channel when the television signal receiver is in an on mode. Second tuning means are provided for tuning a second channel when the television signal receiver is in the on mode and an off/standby mode. The second channel provides emergency alert signals capable of activating the emergency alert function. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a television signal receiver having an emergency alert function is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises steps of enabling a first tuner to tune a first channel when the television signal receiver is in an on mode, and enabling a second tuner to tune a second channel when the television signal receiver is in the on mode and an off/standby mode. The second channel provides emergency alert signals capable of activating the emergency alert function. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a modem apparatus having an emergency alert function is disclosed. According to an exemplary embodiment, the modem apparatus comprises a modulator operative to modulate upstream signals provided to a network. A demodulator is operative to demodulate downstream signals provided from the network. The downstream signals include emergency alert signals capable of activating the emergency alert function. An alert system is operative to provide an alert output when the emergency alert function is activated. 
    
    
     
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary environment suitable for implementing the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a television signal receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating steps according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a modem apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is another diagram of a modem apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary environment  100  suitable for implementing the present invention is shown. In  FIG. 1 , environment  100  comprises signal transmission means such as signal transmission source  10 , dwelling means such as dwelling units  15  (i.e., 1, 2, 3 . . . N, where N may be any positive integer), and signal receiving means such as television signal receivers  20 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , dwelling units  15  may represent residences, businesses and/or other dwelling places located within a particular geographical area, such as but not limited to, a particular continent, country, region, state, area code, zip code, city, county, municipality, subdivision, and/or other definable geographical area. According to an exemplary embodiment, each of the dwelling units  15  is equipped with at least one television signal receiver  20  having an emergency alert function. According to the present invention, the emergency alert function enables television signal receiver  20  to receive emergency alert signals and provide one or more alert outputs to notify individuals of an emergency event. 
     As will be discussed later herein, television signal receiver  20  is also capable of, among other things, receiving emergency alert signals from a separate channel which ensures that emergency events can be detected during all operational modes of television signal receiver  20 , namely an on mode and an off/standby mode. According to an exemplary embodiment, the on mode is an operational mode where television signal receiver  20  is turned on (i.e., providing audio and/or video outputs), while the off/standby mode is an operational mode where television signal receiver  20  is turned off (i.e., no audio and/or video outputs) but still receives electrical power. Television signal receiver  20  may for example be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode responsive to a user input. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, signal transmission source  10  transmits signals including emergency alert signals which may be received by each television signal receiver  20 . The emergency alert signals may be provided from an authority such as the NWS, or other authorities such as governmental entities or the like. Signal transmission source  10  may transmit the emergency alert signals in their original form as provided by the authority, or may append digital data representative of the emergency alert signals to other data, or may modify the emergency alert signals in some manner appropriate for its specific transmission format needs. In response to the emergency alert signals, each television signal receiver  20  may provide one or more alert outputs to thereby notify individuals of the emergency event. Signal transmission source  10  may transmit such emergency alert signals to television signal receivers  20  via any wired or wireless link such as, terrestrial, cable, satellite, fiber optic, digital subscriber line (DSL), and/or any other type of broadcast and/or multicast means. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of television signal receiver  20  of  FIG. 1  is shown. In  FIG. 2 , television signal receiver  20  comprises signal receiving means such as signal receiving element  21 , signal splitting means such as signal splitter  22 , first tuning means such as tuner  23 , first demodulation means such as demodulator  24 , second tuning means such as second tuner  25 , second demodulation means such as demodulator  26 , decoding means such as decoder  27 , processing means and memory means such as processor and memory  28 , audio amplification means such as audio amplifier  29 , audio output means such as speaker  30 , video processing means such as video processor  31 , and visual output means such as display  32 . Some of the foregoing elements may for example be embodied using integrated circuits (ICs). For clarity of description, certain conventional elements of television signal receiver  20  including control signals may not be shown in  FIG. 2 . According to an exemplary embodiment, television signal receiver  20  may receive and process signals in analog and/or digital formats. 
     Signal receiving element  21  is operative to receive signals including audio, video and/or emergency alert signals from signal sources, such as signal transmission source  10  in  FIG. 1 . According to an exemplary embodiment, emergency alert signals may be received as separate data packets in a digital transmission system. According to another exemplary embodiment, received signals may include digitally encoded emergency alert signals. Signal receiving element  21  may be embodied as any signal receiving element such as an antenna, input terminal or other element. 
     Signal splitter  22  is operative to split the signals provided from signal receiving element  21  into first and second frequency channels. According to an exemplary embodiment, television signal receiver  20  may include a picture-in-picture (PIP) function wherein the first channel includes audio and/or video signals for a main picture, and the second channel includes audio and/or video signals for the PIP function. 
     Tuner  23  is operative to tune signals including audio, video and/or emergency alert signals in the first channel when television signal receiver  20  is in the on mode. Accordingly, tuner  23  may tune signals for the main picture of television signal receiver  20 . Demodulator  24  is operative to demodulate signals provided from tuner  23 , and may demodulate signals in analog and/or digital transmission formats. 
     Tuner  25  is operative to tune signals including audio, video and/or emergency alert signals in the second channel when television signal receiver  20  is in the on mode. Accordingly, tuner  25  may tune signals for the PIP function of television signal receiver  20 . Additionally, tuner  25  is operative to tune signals including emergency alert signals in the second channel when television signal receiver  20  is in the off/standby mode. In this manner, tuner  25  enables television signal receiver  20  to receive emergency alert signals in both the on mode, and the off/standby mode. Demodulator  26  is operative to demodulate signals provided from tuner  25 , and may demodulate signals in analog and/or digital transmission formats. 
     Decoder  27  is operative to decode signals including audio, video and/or emergency alert signals provided from demodulators  24  and  26 . According to an exemplary embodiment, decoder  27  decodes digital data which represents emergency alert signals indicating an emergency event. Decoder  27  may also perform other decoding functions, such as decoding data which represents emergency alert signals included in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of an analog television signal. According to an exemplary embodiment, the emergency alert signals include data comprising Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) data associated with the emergency event. SAME data comprises a digital code representing information such as the specific geographical area affected by the emergency event, the type of emergency event (e.g., tornado watch, radiological hazard warning, civil emergency, etc.), and the expiration time of the event alert. SAME data is used by the NWS and other authorities to improve the specificity of emergency alerts and to decrease the frequency of false alerts. Other data and information may also be included in the emergency alert signals according to the present invention. 
     Processor and memory  28  are operative to perform various processing, control, and data storage functions of television signal receiver  20 . According to an exemplary embodiment, processor  28  is operative to process the audio and video signals provided from decoder  27 , and may for example perform analog processing, such as National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) signal processing and/or digital processing, such as Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) processing. 
     Processor  27  is also operative to receive the emergency alert signals from decoder  27  and determine whether the emergency alert function of television signal receiver  20  is activated based on data included in the emergency alert signals. According to an exemplary embodiment, processor  28  compares data in the emergency alert signals to user setup data stored in memory  28  to determine whether the emergency alert function is activated. As will be described later herein, a setup process for the emergency alert function of television signal receiver  20  allows a user to select items such as an applicable geographical area(s), and type(s) of emergency events (e.g., tornado watch, radiological hazard warning, civil emergency, etc.) which activate the emergency alert function. 
     When the emergency alert function of television signal receiver  20  is activated, processor  28  outputs one or more control signals which enable various operations. According to an exemplary embodiment, such control signals enable one or more alert outputs (e.g., aural and/or visual) to thereby notify individuals of the emergency event. Such control signals may also enable other operations of television signal receiver  20 , such as causing it to be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode. Further details regarding these aspects of the present invention will be provided later herein. 
     Audio amplifier  29  is operative to amplify the audio signals provided from processor  28 . Such audio signals may for example represent audio content such as an NWS audio message, a warning alert tone and/or other audio content. Speaker  30  is operative to aurally output the amplified audio signals provided from audio amplifier  29 . 
     Video processor  31  is operative to process the video signals provided from processor  28 . According to an exemplary embodiment, such video signals may include embedded messages such as NWS text messages and/or other messages that provide details regarding emergency events. Video processor  31  may include closed caption circuitry which enables closed caption displays. Display  32  is operative to provide visual displays corresponding to processed signals provided from video processor  31 . According to an exemplary embodiment, display  32  may provide visual displays including the aforementioned messages that provide details regarding emergency events. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart  300  illustrating exemplary steps according to the present invention is shown. For purposes of example and explanation, the steps of  FIG. 3  will be described with reference to television signal receiver  20  of  FIG. 2 . The steps of  FIG. 3  are merely exemplary, and are not intended to limit the present invention in any manner. 
     At step  301 , a setup process for the emergency alert function of television signal receiver  20  is performed. According to an exemplary embodiment, a user performs this setup process by providing inputs to television signal receiver  20  (e.g., using a remote control device not shown) responsive to an on-screen menu displayed via display  32 . Such an on-screen menu may for example be part of an electronic program guide (EPG) function of television signal receiver  20 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the user may select at least the following items during the setup process at step  301 : 
     A. Enable/Disable—The user may select whether to enable or disable the emergency alert function. 
     B. Frequency Selection—The user may select the monitoring channel to tune to in order to receive emergency alert signals. For example, the user may select a terrestrial, cable, satellite or other channel which will be monitored for emergency alert signals. The selection of a monitoring channel may for example be facilitated through a frequency scanning operation which scans various frequency channels to thereby identify the monitoring channels that provide the highest signal strength. 
     C. Geographical Areas—The user may select one or more geographical areas of interest. For example, the user may select a particular continent, country, region, state, area code, zip code, city, county, municipality, subdivision, and/or other definable geographical area. According to an exemplary embodiment, such geographical area(s) may be represented in memory  28  by location data, such as one or more Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) location codes. 
     D. Event Types—The user may select one or more types of emergency events which activate the emergency alert function. For example, the user may designate that events such as civil emergencies, radiological hazard warnings, and/or tornado warnings activate the emergency alert function, but that events such as a thunderstorm watch does not, etc. The user may also select whether the conventional warning audio tone provided by the NWS and/or other alert mechanism activates the emergency alert function. According to the present invention, different severity or alert levels (e.g., statement, watch, warning, etc.) may represent different “events.” For example, a thunderstorm watch may be considered a different event from a thunderstorm warning. 
     E. Alert Outputs—The user may select one or more alert outputs to be provided when the emergency alert function is activated. According to an exemplary embodiment, the user may select visual and/or aural outputs to be provided for each type of emergency event that activates the emergency alert function. For example, the user may select to display a visual message (e.g., an NWS text message as a closed caption display) and/or tune television signal receiver  20  to a specific channel. The user may also for example select to aurally output a warning tone (e.g., chime, siren, etc.) and/or an audio message (e.g., NWS audio message), and the desired volume of each. Moreover, the alert outputs may be selected on an event-by-event basis. Other types of alert outputs may also be provided according to the present invention. 
     According to the present invention, other menu selections may also be provided at step  301  and/or some of the menu selections described above may be omitted. Data corresponding to the user&#39;s selections during the setup process of step  301  is stored in memory  28 . 
     At step  302 , a determination is made by processor  28  as to whether television signal receiver  20  is in the on mode. As previously indicated herein, the on mode is an operational mode where television signal receiver  20  is turned on (i.e., providing audio and/or video outputs), while the off/standby mode is an operational mode where television signal receiver  20  is turned off (i.e., no audio and/or video outputs) but still receives electrical power. Television signal receiver  20  may for example be switched from the off/standby mode to the on mode responsive to a user input. 
     If the determination at step  302  is positive, process flow advances to step  303  where television signal receiver  20  monitors the first and second channels for emergency alert signals using tuners  23  and  25 , respectively, under the control of processor  28 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the first channel monitored by tuner  23  provides a main picture and may be selected by a user through inputs to television signal receiver  20  as part of a normal channel selection process. Also according to this embodiment, the second channel monitored by tuner  25  may be selected by the user during the setup process of step  301  (i.e., item B). Since tuner  25  may enable a PIP function of television signal receiver  20 , the use of tuner  25  to monitor the second channel at step  303  may be conditioned on the PIP function being turned off. Accordingly, assuming the PIP function is turned off and tuner  25  is available, tuners  23  and  25  monitor the first and second channels, respectively, at step  303  and one of the tuners  23  and  25  may thereby receive incoming emergency alert signals. 
     If the determination at step  302  is negative, television signal receiver  20  is deemed to be in the off/standby mode and process flow advances to step  304  where tuner  25  monitors the second channel under the control of processor  28  and may thereby receive incoming emergency alert signals. 
     At step  305 , a determination is made as to whether the emergency alert function of television signal receiver  20  is activated. According to an exemplary embodiment, processor  28  makes this determination by comparing data included in the incoming emergency alert signals to data stored in memory  28 . As previously indicated herein, the emergency alert signals may include data such as SAME data which represents information including the type of emergency event (e.g., tornado watch, radiological hazard warning, civil emergency, etc.) and the specific geographical area(s) affected by the emergency event. According to an exemplary embodiment, processor  28  compares this SAME data to corresponding user setup data (i.e., items C and D of step  301 ) stored in memory  28  to thereby determine whether the emergency alert function is activated. In this manner, the emergency alert function of television signal receiver  20  is activated when the emergency event indicated by the emergency alert signals corresponds to: (1) the geographical area(s) selected by the user for item C of step  301  and (2) the event type(s) selected by the user for item D of step  301 . 
     If the determination at step  305  is negative, process flow loops back to step  302  where processor  28  determines whether television signal receiver  20  is in the on mode. Alternatively, if the determination at step  305  is positive, process flow advances to step  306  where television signal receiver  20  provides one or more alert outputs to thereby notify individuals of the emergency event. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, processor  28  enables the one or more alert outputs at step  306  in accordance with the user&#39;s selections during the setup process of step  301  (i.e., item E), and such alert outputs may be aural and/or visual in nature. For example, aural outputs such as a warning tone and/or an NWS audio message may be provided at step  306  via speaker  30 , and the volume of such aural outputs may be controlled in accordance with the volume level set by the user during the setup process of step  301 . Visual outputs may also be provided at step  306  via display  32  to notify individuals of the emergency event. According to an exemplary embodiment, an auxiliary information display such as an NWS text message (e.g., as a closed caption display) and/or a video output from a specific channel may be provided at step  306  via display  32  under the control of processor  28 . When an alert output results from emergency alert signals received via the second channel when television signal receiver  20  is in the on mode, processor  28  may enable a visual alert output (e.g., NWS text message, etc.) to be overlaid upon a visual output on display  32  provided via the first channel. If digital transmission is employed, the data packets received via the second channel may be inserted into the data stream from the first channel. This allows alert information (e.g., audio, video, text, etc.) from the second channel to simply replace information from the first channel. In this manner, normal programming provided via the first channel may be interrupted or augmented to provide the alert output and thereby ensure that users are notified of an emergency event. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment, the alert output(s) provided at step  306  may be based on the severity or alert level of the particular emergency event. For example, emergency events may be classified in one of three different alert level categories, such as statement, watch, and warning. With such a classification scheme, the alert output for an emergency event at a level  1  or statement level may be provided by an unobtrusive notification means such as a blinking light emitting diode (LED) since it is the least severe type of emergency event. The alert output for an emergency event at a level  2  or watch level may have some type of audio component (e.g., radio message). The alert output for an emergency event at a level  3  or warning level may be provided by a siren or other type of alarm since it is the most severe type of emergency event. Other types of aural and/or visual alert outputs than those expressly described herein may also be provided at step  306  according to the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a block diagram of a modem apparatus  40  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. Modem apparatus  40  may for example be embodied as a cable modem and/or a DSL modem. According to an exemplary embodiment, modem apparatus  40  includes an emergency alert function which enables it to receive emergency alert signals and provide one or more alert outputs to notify individuals of an emergency event. According to this exemplary embodiment, modem apparatus  40  is a stand-alone device which may be operatively coupled to one or more external devices such as television signal receiver  20  and/or a computer which may each provide an emergency alert function. Accordingly, the emergency alert function of modem apparatus  40  may be separate and independent from the emergency alert functions of such other devices. In this manner, modem apparatus  40  may serve as the primary alerting device when such external devices are turned off. Moreover, the emergency alert function of modem apparatus  40  may be used in combination with the emergency alert functions of other devices such that modem apparatus  40  and the other devices each provide one or more alert outputs responsive to emergency alert signals, and thereby increase the likelihood that individuals are notified of emergency events.  FIG. 5  is an exemplary diagram of modem apparatus  40  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment, modem apparatus  40  may be combined with another device such that it is internal to the other device. For example, modem apparatus  40  may be included as internal circuitry within the chassis of television signal receiver  20 , and thereby serve as a separate and independent monitoring device for emergency alert signals, either in substitution of, or in addition to, tuner  25 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , modem apparatus  40  comprises signal diplexer means such as diplexer  41 , tuning means such as tuner  42 , demodulation means such as demodulator  43 , modulation means such as modulator  44 , decoding means such as decoder  45 , processing means and memory means such as processor and memory  46 , alert means such as alert system  47 , control means such as controller  48 . Some of the foregoing elements may for example be embodied using ICs. For clarity of description, certain conventional elements of modem apparatus  40  including control signals may not be shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Diplexer  41  is operative to enable bi-directional transmission of signals between modem apparatus  40  and a network, such as a cable, satellite, fiber optic, DSL, terrestrial or other type of wired and/or wireless network. The signals received by modem apparatus  40  from the network may be referred to herein as downstream signals, and the signals transmitted to the network from modem apparatus  40  may be referred to herein as upstream signals. The downstream signals received by modem apparatus  40  may include emergency alert signals capable of activating the emergency alert function of cable modem  40  and/or another external device such as television signal receiver  20 . 
     Tuner  42  is operative to tune the downstream signals received from the network via diplexer  41 . Demodulator  43  is operative to demodulate the downstream signals provided from tuner  42 . According to an exemplary embodiment, tuner  42  and demodulator  43  are operative to provide at least the same functionality as tuner  25  and demodulator  26  of television signal receiver  20 , respectively, as previously described herein. Modulator  44  is operative to modulate the upstream signals provided to the network. 
     Decoder  45  is operative to provide at least the same functionality as decoder  27  of television signal receiver  20 , as previously described herein. Accordingly, decoder  45  is operative to decode downstream signals that may include emergency alert signals. Such emergency alert signals may for example be represented as packets of digital data, or may be analog signals including digitally encoded signals. As indicated in  FIG. 4 , decoder  45  may be operatively coupled to processor  28  of television signal receiver  20  when modem apparatus  40  is combined with television signal receiver  20 . If modem apparatus  40  is included as internal circuitry within television signal receiver  20 , elements of  FIG. 4  which are downstream of decoder  45 , namely processor and memory  46 , alert system  47 , and controller  48 , may be redundant. 
     Processor and memory  46  are operative to provide at least the same functionality as processor and memory  28  of television signal receiver  20 , as previously described herein. Accordingly, processor and memory  46  may be programmed through a setup process such as the one described in step  301  of  FIG. 3  to thereby establish user settings for the emergency alert function of modem apparatus  40 . As previously indicated herein, the emergency alert function of modem apparatus  40  may be separate and independent from the emergency alert functions of connected devices such as television signal receiver  20 . According to an exemplary embodiment, processor and memory  46  may be programmed via input means of modem apparatus  40  (not shown), from an external device (e.g., television signal receiver  20 , computer, etc.), or via data provided from the network. Once programmed, processor  46  may compare data in received emergency alert signals to user setup data stored in memory  46  to determine whether the emergency alert function of modem apparatus  40  is activated. When the emergency alert function of modem apparatus  40  and/or another device is activated, processor  46  outputs one or more control signals which enable one or more alert outputs (e.g., aural and/or visual) to thereby notify individuals of the emergency event. 
     Alert system  47  is operative to provide one or more alert outputs under the control of processor  46  when the emergency alert function of modem apparatus  40  and/or another device is activated. According to an exemplary embodiment, alert system  47  includes visual and/or aural output means, such as visual output element  47   a  and aural output element  47   b  shown in  FIG. 5 . Visual output element  47   a  may for example be embodied as an LED and/or other type of visual indicator element. Aural output element  47   b  may for example be embodied as a speaker and/or other type of aural output element. Controller  48  is operative to control the transmission of signals to and from an external device, such as a computer. According to an exemplary embodiment, controller  48  may be embodied as an Ethernet or other type of controller. Accordingly, controller  48  may provide alert information to an external device (e.g., computer), or may provide direct inputs to audio and video processing circuitry of a device if modem apparatus  40  has been integrated into the device. 
     As described herein, the present invention provides techniques for receiving emergency alert signals using an apparatus such as a television signal receiver and/or modem. The present invention may be applicable to various apparatuses, either with or without a display device. Accordingly, the phrase “television signal receiver” as used herein may refer to systems or apparatuses capable of receiving and processing television signals including, but not limited to, television sets, or monitors that include a display device, and systems or apparatuses such as set-top boxes, video cassette recorders (VCRs), digital versatile disk (DVD) players, video game boxes, personal video recorders (PVRs), or other apparatuses that may not include a display device. 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.