Emergency alert signals for satellite systems

Abstract

A notification system for satellite broadcasts is provided, the system comprising a database that is a depository for notification information, an encoder that encodes notification information from the database for satellite broadcasts, and a data linker that associates encoded notification information with at least one packet identifier (PID) for transmission to at least one satellite system transponder. Additionally, a receiver is described that can decode notification information from any multimedia content stream source utilizing a detector, a decoder and a notification information lookup.

1 . A notification system, comprising:
 an encoder that encodes notification information for satellite broadcasts; and   a data linker that associates encoded notification information with at least one packet identifier (PID) for transmission to at least one satellite system transponder.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further including a database for storing notification information. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the database is in a centralized location. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the notification information comprises emergency alerts. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the encoder encodes the notification information according to a notification standard. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the encoder encodes the notification information based on at least one geographical satellite broadcast region. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the encoder encodes the notification information based on standardized notification message indicator. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one packet identifier (PID) is a unique notification PID. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising the steps of:
 encoding notification information for satellite broadcasting; and   associating the encoded notification information with a packet identifier (PID) in a satellite system for transmission to at least one transponder.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of:
 collecting notification information in a database at common location prior to encoding. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of:
 encoding the notification information with a geographical identifier. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of:
 encoding emergency alerts as part of the notification information. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of:
 encoding the notification information according to a notification standard. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of:
 encoding the notification information based on at least one geographical satellite broadcast region. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of:
 encoding the notification information based on a standardized notification message indicator. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of:
 associating the encoded notification information with at least one unique notification PID. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method of receiving notification information, comprising the steps of:
 receiving notification information from a notification packet identifier (PID) for a media content distribution system; and   bypassing local signal control of a local content distribution system device to allow dissemination of the notification information to a viewer.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the step of:
 verifying that the notification information is associated with a recipient device before allowing the bypassing of the local signal control. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of:
 determining association with a recipient device of the notification information based on geographical indicators encoded into the packet identifier and location of the recipient device. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising the steps of:
 associating the notification information with a notification message stored in the recipient device; and 
 displaying the stored notification message to the viewer without regard to the operational state of the recipient device.