Patent ID: 8362895

Claim:
A method comprising: a previously installed central television distribution network broadcasting entertainment programs to a plurality of multi-dimensional display units located in different areas within a building; an existing ambient condition monitoring system including a command center within the building monitoring environmental conditions within the building; providing a source of video signals coupled to and proximate the command center that enables an operator of the command center to generate and distribute operator initiated real time video signals to the plurality of multi-dimensional display units; coupling a video encoder between the source of video signals of the command center and the television distribution network; at least one ambient condition detector of the ambient condition monitoring system sensing a potential alarm condition in an identified region of the building, the at least one ambient condition detector coupled to the command center; the command center coupling location-specific multi-dimensional visual information relative to the condition through the video encoder to the plurality of multi-dimensional display units located in immediately and potentially affected regions of the building via the television distribution network; and the television network interrupting the entertainment programs if the specified multi-dimensional display unit is powered on, if the multi-dimensional display unit is powered off, sending a power on command from the command center coupled with the video signals, if the multi-dimensional display unit is muted, sending a volume control command from the command center coupled with the video signals, and broadcasting the location specific visual information including the real time video signals to respective ones of the plurality of multi-dimensional display units located throughout the immediately and potentially affected regions of the building, to immediately inform and alert occupants of a current situation and an appropriate response.