Automated Emergency Alert Triggering in Broadcast Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual bit rate allocation chart management in satellite television broadcast systems is prone to errors, leading to channel outages and incorrect content, which reduces customer satisfaction due to the potential for mis-entering or overlooking configurations during setup and modification processes.

Innovation Solution

A centralized and automated system for creating emergency alerts across broadcast channels, utilizing a broadcast operations channel management system to generate user alerts, determine eligible guide channels, and initiate emergency alert events by sending triggers to the traffic scheduling system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual procedures are used to set-up, configure and modify broadcast systems, then flexibility and ease of operation are maintained, but errors such as channel outages and incorrect content occur due to human oversight or incorrect data entry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadcast accuracyVSAvoidmanual configuration effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service automation where the broadcast management system automatically configures and modifies broadcast parameters without requiring manual intervention. The automated system serves itself by generating configuration data, sending triggers to traffic scheduling systems, and updating program guide configurations autonomously, thereby eliminating human error while maintaining operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (hand-entry of data, physical configuration of equipment) with an automated electronic system. The mechanical process of manually configuring broadcast equipment is substituted by an automated software system that electronically generates and transmits configuration data, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the bit rate allocation chart is changed frequently to manage bandwidth, then adaptability to different content requirements is improved, but the opportunity for mis-entering or not configuring equipment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth management flexibilityVSAvoidconfiguration accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating configuration data and validation rules before actual broadcast changes are implemented. The automated system prepares the bit rate allocation chart modifications in advance, validates the data integrity, and only then executes the changes, thereby maintaining adaptability while preventing configuration errors through pre-validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the automated system continuously monitors broadcast system status and validates configuration changes. When the bit rate allocation chart is modified, the system provides feedback to verify that changes were correctly applied and that no configuration errors occurred, thereby maintaining both adaptability and reliability through continuous validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8347328B2Method and system for initiating an emergency alert in a broadcast system

Publication Date: 2013.01.01 DIRECTV LLC

AI summary

A method and system for initiating an emergency alert in a broadcast system includes a broadcast operations channel management system providing a user alert user interface and determining guide channels eligible for an emergency alert. The broadcast operations channel management system sends a trigger to the traffic scheduling system and initiates an emergency alert event in response to the trigger.