Patent ID: 8584189

Claim:
A method for sending an emergency communication from a set-top box, the method comprising: associating a user and a location of the user with the set-top box; receiving an indicator of an emergency utilizing the set-top box, wherein the indicator is enabled to be generated utilizing (1) sensors integrated with the set-top box, and (2) user input received through a menu presented to the user by the set-top box, wherein the menu presents the user options to select between an emergency interface and a self-help menu, wherein the emergency interface is configured to receive the indicator, and wherein the self-help menu provides a nested menu to allow the user to indicate a nature of emergency and displays associated content to assist the user in dealing with the emergency; determining the user and the location associated with the set-top box in response to receiving the indicator; generating an emergency communication as a discrete message utilizing the set-top box in response to receiving the indicator, wherein the emergency communication indicates the user and the location associated with the set-top box if determinable; and sending the emergency communication from the set-top box as the discrete message, wherein the emergency communication is sent as the discrete message through a media network in communication with the set-top box in response to receiving the indicator.