Mobile Device Emergency Alert Standardization via Broadcast Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in providing consistent and standardized delivery of emergency alert messages to mobile devices via various broadcast channels, such as FM, AM, DTV, and satellite, due to differences in formats and receiver capabilities, leading to inconsistent user experiences and difficulties in managing alert preferences.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device with multiple receivers can extract emergency alert messages from broadcast data channels, process them, and format them into a standardized format like CMAS, allowing users to opt out of certain alerts based on location and preferences, and render the messages consistently across different services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If emergency alert messages are received via multiple different broadcast channels (FM, AM, DTV, satellite), then the coverage and availability of alerts is improved, but the complexity of processing and standardizing messages from different formats increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device is equipped with multiple receivers (FM receiver, AM receiver, DTV receiver, satellite receiver) that can all process emergency alert messages through a common standardized interface. Each receiver type is designed to extract and standardize alerts into a unified format, allowing the system to handle multiple broadcast sources without proportionally increasing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A standardized alert processing layer acts as an intermediary between the various receivers and the final alert delivery mechanism. This intermediary layer receives alerts from any receiver type, standardizes the format, and delivers them through a common pathway, thereby managing the complexity of handling multiple broadcast formats.
2Ease of operation
If emergency alert messages are standardized to a common format (CMAS), then the ease of operation and user experience is improved, but the adaptability to receive different alert formats from various broadcast services deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential alert information from various broadcast formats and separates it from the source-specific formatting details. By extracting only the core alert data and presenting it in a standardized CMAS format, the system maintains ease of operation while the underlying extraction processes handle the diversity of source formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The alert processing system is segmented into distinct modules: format-specific extraction modules for each broadcast type (FM, AM, DTV, satellite), a central standardization module that converts to CMAS format, and a delivery module. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in its function while maintaining overall system versatility.
3Ease of operation
If users are provided with options to opt out of certain alerts based on location and preferences, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Users configure their alert preferences and location-based filtering criteria in advance, before receiving actual alerts. The system pre-processes these preferences and stores them as filtering rules, so that when alerts are received, the pre-configured rules automatically apply without requiring real-time complex processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to users about which alerts would be delivered based on their current preferences and location settings. This allows users to adjust their preferences based on the feedback, creating an iterative process that simplifies the overall interaction despite the underlying complexity of preference management.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device may be configured with multiple receivers (e.g., a cellular receiver, a broadcast receiver such as FM, AM, DTV, a satellite receiver, a NWR receiver, etc.). Upon receipt of an emergency alert message via at least one of the receivers, the mobile device, via an application installed on the mobile device, may extract the emergency alert message from a data channel of the broadcast. The mobile device, via the application, may process the extracted emergency alert message to determine if the emergency alert message is to be rendered via the device. And, if the emergency alert message is to be rendered, the mobile device, via the application, may format the extracted emergency alert message to conform to a standard format (e.g., Commercial Mobile Alert System, CMAS, format).