GPS enabled emergency messaging system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein transmissions of the navigation signal and the broadcast message are multiplexed.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , wherein the navigation signal and the broadcast message are transmitted via code division multiple access (CDMA) multiplexing.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 , wherein the navigation signal and the broadcast message are transmitted via a constant-envelope composite signal.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 , wherein the navigation signal and the broadcast signal are transmitted via inter-vote modulation.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 , wherein the broadcast message is an emergency broadcast message.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 , wherein the emergency broadcast message includes information describing a type of emergency that exists and information explaining how to respond to the emergency.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 , wherein the emergency broadcast message contains emergency instructions and guidance tailored for users within the geographic area in which reception of the emergency broadcast message is intended.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmissions are broadcast from a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 , wherein (b) includes receiving navigation signals from a plurality of satellites and calculating the geographic position of the receiver based upon the navigation signals.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 , wherein (b) includes determining the geographic position of the receiver from a source other than navigation signals transmitted by satellites.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 , wherein the output includes at least one of: an aural signal; a visually displayed message; and a retransmission of the broadcast message.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 , wherein the broadcast message further includes an identifier that identifies a category of individuals for which the broadcast message is intended.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1 , wherein the broadcast message further includes a priority indicator that identifies a priority level assigned to the broadcast message.

Claim 16

The method of claim 14 , wherein the receiver is configurable to receive messages above or below a specified priority level.

Claim 17

The method of claim 1 , wherein the geographic area in which reception of the broadcast message is intended is specified using at least one geographic location.

Claim 18

The method of claim 1 , wherein the broadcast message includes a plurality of messages respectively intended for reception in a plurality of geographic areas.

Claim 19

The method of claim 17 , wherein at least some of the plurality of geographic areas overlap.

Claim 20

The method of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of geographic areas lies within another of the plurality of geographic areas.

Claim 21

A communication device for receiving a message broadcast via satellite communications, comprising: a receiver for receiving transmissions from global positioning system (GPS) satellites, wherein the transmissions from the GPS satellites include: a navigation signal useful for determining a geographic position of the receiver; and a broadcast message including information relating to a geographic area in which reception of the broadcast message is intended; a position-determining processor coupled to said receiver and configured to determine a geographic position of the receiver; a message processor coupled to said receiver and to said position-determining processor and configured to determine whether the geographic position of the receiver is within the geographic area in which reception of the broadcast message is intended; and a user interface for generating an output indicative of the broadcast message in response to said message processor determining the geographic position of the receiver to be within the geographic area in which reception of the broadcast message is intended.

Claim 22

A communication device for receiving a message broadcast via satellite communications, comprising: a receiver for receiving transmissions from global positioning system (GPS) satellites, wherein the transmissions from the GPS satellites include: a navigation signal useful for determining a geographic position of the receiver; and a broadcast message including information relating to a geographic area in which reception of the broadcast message is intended; a position-determining processor coupled to said receiver and configured to determine a geographic position of the receiver; a message processor coupled to said receiver and to said position-determining processor and configured to determine whether the geographic position of the receiver is within the geographic area in which reception of the broadcast message is intended; and a user interface for generating an output indicative of the broadcast message in response to said message processor determining the geographic position of the receiver to be within the geographic area in which reception of the broadcast message is intended.

Claim 23

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein said receiver receives the navigation signal and the broadcast message as a multiplexed transmission.

Claim 24

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein said receiver receives the navigation signal and the broadcast message as code division multiple access (CDMA) signals.

Claim 25

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein said receiver receives a constant-envelope composite signal comprising the navigation signal and the broadcast message.

Claim 26

The communication device of claim 23 , wherein said receiver receives an inter-vote modulated signal comprising the navigation signal and the broadcast signal.

Claim 27

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the broadcast message received by said receiver is an emergency broadcast message.

Claim 28

The communication device of claim 25 , wherein the emergency broadcast message includes information describing a type of emergency that exists and information explaining how to respond to the emergency.

Claim 29

The communication device of claim 25 , wherein the emergency broadcast message received by said receiver contains emergency information tailored for users within the geographic area in which reception of the emergency broadcast message is intended.

Claim 30

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein said receiver receives transmissions from a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite.

Claim 31

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein said receiver receives transmissions containing navigation signals from a plurality of satellites, and wherein said position-determining processor calculates the geographic position of the communication device based upon the navigation signals.

Claim 32

The communication device of claim 20 , said position-determining processor determining the geographic position of the communication device from information other than navigation signals transmitted by satellites.

Claim 33

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein said user interface includes at least one of a speaker for generating an aural signal and a display for visually displaying a message.

Claim 34

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the broadcast message received by said receiver includes an identifier that identifies a category of individuals for which the broadcast message is intended.

Claim 35

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the broadcast message received by said receiver includes a priority indicator that identifies a priority level assigned to the broadcast message.

Claim 36

The communication device of claim 33 , wherein said receiver is configurable to receive messages above or below a specified priority level.

Claim 37

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the broadcast message received by said receiver specifies the geographic area in which reception of the broadcast message is intended using at least one geographic location.

Claim 38

The communication device of claim 20 , wherein the broadcast message received by said receiver includes a plurality of messages respectively intended for reception in a plurality of geographic areas.

Claim 39

The communication device of claim 36 , wherein at least some of the plurality of geographic areas overlap.

Claim 40

The communication device of claim 36 , wherein at least one of the plurality of geographic areas lies within another of the plurality of geographic areas.