US6462665B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for sending a weather condition alert
Assignee: Cooper Wheelock Inc
•
Filing: 2000-05-16
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Granted: 2002-10-08
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Expires: 2020-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus of an alert system for notifying subscribers of weather or hazardous conditions. A weather-tracking source or service broadcasts weather or hazardous conditions across the nation to alert the general public of potentially dangerous climatic and hazardous conditions that may arise from time to time. A weather service provider receives the weather condition broadcasts from the weather-tracking source or service and transmits weather or hazardous condition signals to subscribers having an alert unit. The alert unit is a passive device capable of receiving and warning the subscribers of the weather or hazardous condition broadcasts.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter B. Tarlton
- 👤 Daniel P. Millerick
- 👤 Craig R. Walters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:14
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/10; G01; G01W; G01W1/00; G01W1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for notifying a subscriber of a weather or hazardous condition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting a weather or hazardous condition signal via a weather service provider to the subscriber, wherein said transmitting step (a) transmits said weather or hazardous signal by using a region-based paging number for a specific region of subscribers; and (b) passively alerting said subscriber of said weather or hazardous condition upon receiving said weather or hazardous signal via an alert unit, where said at least one passive alert unit will only activate if said weather or hazardous condition signal is indicative of a weather or hazardous condition threshold level as defined by the subscriber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for notifying a subscriber of a weather or hazardous condition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting a weather or hazardous condition signal via a weather service provider to the subscriber, wherein said transmitting step (a) transmits said weather or hazardous signal by using a region-based paging number for a specific region of subscribers; and (b) passively alerting said subscriber of said weather or hazardous condition upon receiving said weather or hazardous signal via an alert unit, where said at least one passive alert unit will only activate if said weather or hazardous condition signal is indicative of a weather or hazardous condition threshold level as defined by the subscriber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
An alert system for notifying a subscriber of a weather or hazardous condition, said alert system comprising: a weather service provider for detecting a weather or hazardous condition, wherein said weather service provider transmits a weather or hazardous condition signal to the subscriber to alert the subscriber of the weather or hazardous condition; and at least one passive alert unit for receiving said weather or hazardous condition signal, where said at least one passive alert unit will only activate if said weather or hazardous condition signal is indicative of a weather or hazardous condition threshold level as defined by the subscriber, wherein said weather or hazardous condition signal is transmitted via a paging system, where said weather or hazardous condition signal is transmitted by using a region-based paging number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
129 words
An alert system for notifying a subscriber of a weather or hazardous condition, said alert system comprising: a weather service provider for detecting a weather or hazardous condition, wherein said weather service provider transmits a weather or hazardous condition signal to the subscriber to alert the subscriber of the weather or hazardous condition; and at least one passive alert unit for receiving said weather or hazardous condition signal, where said at least one passive alert unit will only activate if said weather or hazardous condition signal is indicative of a weather or hazardous condition threshold level as defined by the subscriber, wherein said weather or hazardous condition signal is transmitted via a paging system, where said weather or hazardous condition signal is transmitted by using a region-based paging number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The alert system of claim 2 , wherein said weather service provider further comprises: a database for storing subscriber information, wherein said subscriber information comprises said weather or hazardous condition threshold level.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for notifying a subscriber of a weather or hazardous condition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting a weather or hazardous condition signal via a weather service provider to the subscriber via a wireless communication system, wherein said transmitting step (a) transmits said weather or hazardous signal by using a region-based paging number for a specific region of subscribers, wherein said transmitting step (a) comprises the steps of: (a1) identifying a weather or hazardous condition in accordance with a weather or hazardous condition threshold level; (a2) identifying a subscriber having a weather or hazardous condition threshold level matching said weather or hazardous condition; and (a3) only transmitting said weather or hazardous condition signal to said identified subscriber; and (b) passively alerting said subscriber of said weather or hazardous condition upon receiving said weather or hazardous signal via an alert unit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for notifying a subscriber of a weather or hazardous condition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting a weather or hazardous condition signal via a weather service provider to the subscriber via a wireless communication system, wherein said transmitting step (a) transmits said weather or hazardous signal by using a region-based paging number for a specific region of subscribers, wherein said transmitting step (a) comprises the steps of: (a1) identifying a weather or hazardous condition in accordance with a weather or hazardous condition threshold level; (a2) identifying a subscriber having a weather or hazardous condition threshold level matching said weather or hazardous condition; and (a3) only transmitting said weather or hazardous condition signal to said identified subscriber; and (b) passively alerting said subscriber of said weather or hazardous condition upon receiving said weather or hazardous signal via an alert unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said wireless communication system of transmitting step (a) is a pager system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said weather or hazardous condition signal is formulated from information received from a weather tracking source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
122 words
An alert system for notifying a subscriber of a weather or hazardous condition, said alert system comprising: at least one passive alert unit for warning the subscriber of the weather or hazardous condition; a weather service provider for detecting a weather or hazardous condition, wherein said weather service provider transmits a weather or hazardous condition signal via a wireless communication system to said at least one passive alert unit to alert the subscriber of the weather or hazardous condition, wherein said wireless communication system is a paging system, where said weather or hazardous condition signal is transmitted by using a region-based paging number, and a database for storing subscriber information, wherein said subscriber information comprises a weather or hazardous condition threshold level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
122 words
An alert system for notifying a subscriber of a weather or hazardous condition, said alert system comprising: at least one passive alert unit for warning the subscriber of the weather or hazardous condition; a weather service provider for detecting a weather or hazardous condition, wherein said weather service provider transmits a weather or hazardous condition signal via a wireless communication system to said at least one passive alert unit to alert the subscriber of the weather or hazardous condition, wherein said wireless communication system is a paging system, where said weather or hazardous condition signal is transmitted by using a region-based paging number, and a database for storing subscriber information, wherein said subscriber information comprises a weather or hazardous condition threshold level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The alert system of claim 7 , wherein said at least one alert unit comprises: a receiver; and at least one alarm indicator, coupled to said receiver, for providing a warning signal to alert said subscriber of said weather or hazardous condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The alert system of claim 7 , wherein said alert unit is a voice evacuation system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The alert system of claim 8 , wherein said warning signal comprises a visual signal generated by a strobe light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The alert system of claim 8 , wherein said warning signal comprises an audible signal generated by a horn.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The alert system of claim 8 , wherein said alert unit further comprises a display for displaying said weather or hazardous condition to said subscribers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The alert system of claim 12 , wherein said display comprises: a liquid crystal display for displaying alphanumeric text representing said weather or hazardous condition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The alert system of claim 12 , wherein said display comprises: at least one light emitting diode (LED) representing said weather or hazardous condition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-07 | 2006-04-08 | 2006-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-07 | 2010-04-08 | 2010-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-07 | 2014-04-08 | 2014-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |