Apparatus and method for providing weather and other alerts

A method of operating a device having a receiver and a peripheral device to receive location-specific alert information pertaining to an alert condition which is broadcast by a wireless bi-directional communication network having a plurality of communication channels and to inform a user of the existence of the alert condition, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a communication channel from the plurality of communication channels of the wireless bi-directional communication network;
• monitoring the selected communication channel with the receiver for a transmission specifying a selected service level;
• monitoring the selected communication channel with the receiver for a transmission including location-specific alert information pertaining to the alert condition;
• and,
• operating the peripheral device to notify the user of the alert condition upon detection of a transmission including location-specific alert information in accordance with the selected service level.

An apparatus for providing to a user location-specific alert information associated with an alert condition relevant to persons in the selected geographical area of the user, the location-specific alert information being digitally broadcast to the selected geographical area by at least one transmitter of a wireless bidirectional telecommunication network, the location-specific alert information including information rendering the location-specific alert information identifiable from other transmissions of the communication network, said apparatus comprising:

• a receiver adapted to receive digital transmissions on a channel of the plurality of communication channels of the wireless bi-directional communication network;
• a peripheral device operable to inform the user of the existence of the alert condition;
• and,
• a controller communicatively connected to said receiver and said peripheral device, said controller being operable to recognize the information rendering the location-specific alert information identifiable from other transmissions of the communication network and to operate said peripheral device in response to the recognition of a digital transmission of location-specific alert information;
• wherein said controller is further operable to monitor said channel of said plurality of communications channels for the receipt of a transmission specifying a selected service level and to control said peripheral device to provide alert information to the user in accordance with said selected service level.