Patent ID: 7889092

Claim:
An alert device, comprising: a light configured to controllably activate and deactivate; a speaker configured to controllably activate and deactivate; a communication system having at least one receiver configured to receive an alert notification containing at least digitally encoded instructions for at least one pattern and duration of activation of the light, digitally encoded instructions for at least one pattern and duration of activation of the speaker, and digitally encoded instructions for an overall duration of the alert notification; and a controller communicatively coupled with the light, the speaker, and the communication system, wherein the controller is configured to: monitor the communication system for the alert notification; decode the alert notification to determine the at least one pattern and duration of activation of the light, the at least one pattern and duration of activation of the speaker, and the overall duration of the alert notification; activate the light for the at least one pattern and duration of activation of the light; activate the speaker for the at least one pattern and duration of activation of the speaker; and deactivate the light and the speaker after the overall duration of the alert notification substantially elapses.