Portable Device Emergency Alert Notification via Control Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadcast technologies for emergency alert systems do not effectively notify users of emergency alerts, and continuous monitoring for such alerts can significantly drain battery life in portable devices.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allow portable devices to receive information about emergency alerts without continuous monitoring of broadcast channels, using a telephony network's control channel to notify users via visual, auditory, or mechanical feedback, and optionally provide access to emergency information without requiring user action, even if EAS broadcast reception is disabled.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous monitoring of broadcast channels is implemented to detect emergency alerts, then notification reliability is improved, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic monitoring of control channels instead of continuous monitoring of broadcast channels. The network periodically sends notifications on control channels when emergency alerts are broadcast, allowing the device to check for alerts at intervals rather than continuously monitoring broadcast channels, thereby reducing battery consumption while maintaining notification reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control channel acts as an intermediary between the broadcast system and the device. Instead of directly monitoring broadcast channels for emergency alerts, the device receives notifications through the control channel, which mediates the alert delivery process and enables more efficient energy usage.
2Use of energy by moving object
If users are notified of emergency alerts through control channel notifications, then battery life is preserved, but users may miss alerts if they disable EAS broadcast reception
Solution Approach 1:
The control channel notification system serves multiple functions: it notifies users of emergency alerts even when EAS broadcast reception is disabled, provides information about broadcast technology types, and enables users to access emergency alert information through various interfaces. This multi-functionality ensures reliable notification while preserving battery life.
3Productivity
If existing broadcast technologies are used for emergency alerts, then emergency information can be transmitted, but users do not know when to tune to appropriate broadcast channels
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to users through control channel notifications that inform them when emergency alerts are being broadcast and what type of broadcast technology is being used. This feedback mechanism enables users to tune to the appropriate broadcast channels at the correct time, improving both emergency information delivery and user ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing alerts to end users of networked enabled portable devices are provided so that the end users are made aware when broadcast emergency alerts are issued. The systems and methods provide a way for a portable device to receive information about an emergency alert broadcast of which the user should be aware, e.g., from the EAS, and to notify the user of the emergency alert. A flag provides an indication the EAS should be on and the systems and method override the settings made by a user to a portable device to enable EAS reception. The user may then be automatically taken to the emergency alert information by having the portable device automatically tune to the emergency broadcast information, or the user may optionally retrieve the emergency information by tuning to the emergency broadcast channel, or the user may otherwise be presented with a reference to the emergency data (e.g., a link to the information).