Abstract: An emergency alert is received. Information representing a map is generated from emergence alert information identifying an affected area, including a code that identifies a political region and a primitive shape corresponding to the affected area. Customer premises equipment is authenticated and the information representing the map is transmitted for receipt by the customer premises equipment. An indication of a selection of a user-selectable field is received, and in response, a second video stream associated with the emergency and the affected area is transmitted for presentation to customer premises. The first information is displayable as overlay video, providing a map of the affected area and occupying a portion of a display area. The map is displayable together with a user-selectable display field indicating that more information is available in relation to the emergency.

Abstract: An emergency alert is received. Information representing a map is generated from emergence alert information identifying an affected area, including a code that identifies a political region and a primitive shape corresponding to the affected area. Customer premises equipment is authenticated and the information representing the map is transmitted for receipt by the customer premises equipment. An indication of a selection of a user-selectable field is received, and in response, a second video stream associated with the emergency and the affected area is transmitted for presentation to customer premises. The first information is displayable as overlay video, providing a map of the affected area and occupying a portion of a display area. The map is displayable together with a user-selectable display field indicating that more information is available in relation to the emergency.

Abstract: An emergency alert is received. Information representing a map is generated from emergence alert information that identifies an affected area. The information identifying the affected area includes primitive shapes. Customer premises equipment within the affected area is identified based upon the primitive shapes. The information representing the map is transmitted for receipt by customer premises equipment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delaying or dismissing emergency alert system (EAS) messages displayed within multimedia content, wherein user input is provided to temporarily delay for a user selectable or predetermined time period or to permanently dismiss EAS messages. Further user input may determine a snooze period during which the display of EAS messages is temporarily suspended. In some embodiments, EAS messages are automatically delayed until a commercial is displayed. In some embodiments, EAS messages are forwarded from a customer premises equipment device (e.g., a set-top box) to a user specified communication device (e.g., a mobile telephone or remote control device) while the presentation of a multimedia program continues.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide enhanced 911 (E911) services for nomadic users are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving an Internet protocol (IP) address associated with a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) device and a media access control (MAC) address associated with the VoIP device, detecting when the VoIP device is outside an access network based on the MAC address and the IP address, prompting a user of the VoIP device to provide geographic location information for the VoIP device when the VoIP device is outside the access network, and updating enhanced 911 (E911) information for the VoIP device based on the geographic location information.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distributing emergency alert audio data, the method including but not limited to receiving emergency alert message (EAM) data at an encoder/decoder in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system; sending the EAM to an emergency alert control (EAC) server in the IPTV system; verifying at the EAC that a valid audio message is received in the EAM; if the EAM contains an audio file, creating a MP3 audio file from or another acceptable format for the audio file; and if the received EAM is a state/local alert, placing the EAM in first-in-first-out order in a message delivery queue for delivery to end user devices in the order of the message delivery queue, else, if a streaming playback of state/local alert message is in progress, suspending the streaming playback of the state/local alert message, and continuously streaming the received EAM to end user device in the IPTV system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting emergency messages is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box in communication with an interactive television network where the set top box has a controller to receive a notification signal from a network server of the interactive television network where the notification signal is associated with an emergency alert message received by the network server from an emergency alert system, determine a language for presenting the emergency alert message, select a first multicast of the emergency alert message from a group of multicasts based on the determined language where each of the group of multicasts of the emergency alert message being in a different language, transmit a request to the network server to join the first multicast of the emergency alert message, and receive the first multicast of the emergency alert message. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to enable 911 services to an internet protocol (“IP”) communication device are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving a media access control address associated with the IP communication device and a first internet protocol address associated with a gateway through which the IP communication device is obtaining network access. A second internet protocol address associated with the media access control address is then retrieved. The first internet protocol address with the second internet protocol address are then compared. When the first internet protocol address does not match the second internet protocol address, the media access control address is associated with the first internet protocol address in a database to designate a geographic location of the device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distributing emergency alert audio data, the method including but not limited to receiving emergency alert message (EAM) data at an encoder/decoder in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system; sending the EAM to an emergency alert control (EAC) server in the IPTV system; verifying at the EAC that a valid audio message is received in the EAM; if the EAM contains an audio file, creating a MP3 audio file from or another acceptable format for the audio file; and if the received EAM is a state/local alert, placing the EAM in first-in-first-out order in a message delivery queue for delivery to end user devices in the order of the message delivery queue, else, if a streaming playback of state/local alert message is in progress, suspending the streaming playback of the state/local alert message, and continuously streaming the received EAM to end user device in the IPTV system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting emergency messages is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box in communication with an interactive television network where the set top box has a controller to receive a notification signal from a network server of the interactive television network where the notification signal is associated with an emergency alert message received by the network server from an emergency alert system, determine a language for presenting the emergency alert message, select a first multicast of the emergency alert message from a group of multicasts based on the determined language where each of the group of multicasts of the emergency alert message being in a different language, transmit a request to the network server to join the first multicast of the emergency alert message, and receive the first multicast of the emergency alert message. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A video stream or interface that may include an indication of a broadcasted alert message and/or detailed information associated with a broadcasted alert message may be generated and/or rendered. The video stream or interface may be generated and/or rendered by a content provider and then provided to a consumer via, for example, a content device such that the video stream or interface may be accessed via a broadcast channel or an on-demand channel established by the content provider. Alternatively, the video stream or interface may be generated and/or rendered by the content device such that the video stream or interface may be accessed via an option such as a channel, menu option, or the like provided by the content device.

Abstract: An emergency alert is received. Information representing a map is generated from emergence alert information that identifies an affected area. The information identifying the affected area includes primitive shapes. Customer premises equipment within the affected area is identified based upon the primitive shapes. The information representing the map is transmitted for receipt by customer premises equipment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for delaying or dismissing emergency alert system (EAS) messages displayed within multimedia content, wherein user input is provided to temporarily delay for a user selectable or predetermined time period or to permanently dismiss EAS messages. Further user input may determine a snooze period during which the display of EAS messages is temporarily suspended. In some embodiments, EAS messages are automatically delayed until a commercial is displayed. In some embodiments, EAS messages are forwarded from a customer premises equipment device (e.g., a set-top box) to a user specified communication device (e.g., a mobile telephone or remote control device) while the presentation of a multimedia program continues.

Abstract: A unified storefront system includes a recommendation module, a coupon module, and a payment module. The recommendation module is adapted to recommend and cross promote a first plurality of assets based on a user context and based on an access device. The coupon management module is coupled to the recommendation module, and the coupon management module adapted to store a coupon associated with a user account. The payment module is coupled to the recommendation module, and the payment module is adapted to provide an ability to purchase a first asset with a plurality of payment methods during a single transaction.

Abstract: An event notification system includes a provision module, a scheduling module, and a notification module. The provision module is adapted to determine multiple types of devices associated with subscribed services of a user account. The scheduling module is adapted to store a calendar event, and further adapted to generate an impending event signal based upon an impending occurrence of the calendar event. The notification module is in communication with the provision module and the scheduling module. The notification module is adapted receive the impending event signal, adapted to retrieve the multiple types of devices associated with the subscribed services of the user account, adapted to determine which of the multiple types of devices are in current communication with the system, and adapted to send an event notification message to the devices that are in current communication with the system based upon receiving the impending event signal.

Abstract: A system includes an asset database, a search engine, a recommendation engine, and an advertisement module. The search engine is adapted to search for a first asset, stored in the asset database, based on a metadata search inquiry received from one of a plurality of access devices. The recommendation engine is adapted to recommend a second asset based on the metadata search inquiry, adapted to recommend a third asset based on customer usage information, and adapted to recommend the second asset and the third asset also based on an access device in communication with the recommendation engine. The advertisement module is adapted to provide an asset advertisement based upon the customer usage information and one of the asset categories being searched. Methods for searching, recommending, advertising assets to the plurality of access devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide enhanced 911 (E911) services for nomadic users are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving an Internet protocol (IP) address associated with a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) device and a media access control (MAC) address associated with the VoIP device, detecting when the VoIP device is outside an access network based on the MAC address and the IP address, prompting a user of the VoIP device to provide geographic location information for the VoIP device when the VoIP device is outside the access network, and updating enhanced 911 (E911) information for the VoIP device based on the geographic location information.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to enable 911 services to an internet protocol (“IP”) communication device are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving a media access control address associated with the IP communication device and a first internet protocol address associated with a gateway through which the IP communication device is obtaining network access. A second internet protocol address associated with the media access control address is then retrieved. The first internet protocol address with the second internet protocol address are then compared. When the first internet protocol address does not match the second internet protocol address, the media access control address is associated with the first internet protocol address in a database to designate a geographic location of the device.