Method of transmitting, receiving, recording, playing and displaying weather radio

A method of receiving and recording radio-broadcasted alerts, the method comprising:

• determining, by a radio alert receiver apparatus comprising a processor, a length of a tone or other indication in a radio broadcast preceding a desired alert type;
• configuring, by the radio alert receiver apparatus, the processor to turn on and off according to a periodic schedule based on the determined length of the tone or other indication, said processor configured to monitor one or more radio broadcasts when turned on;
• detecting at the processor an indication preceding one or more alerts of the desired alert type;
• based on said detecting, transmitting a first instruction to the processor to remain on contrary to the periodic schedule,
• receiving at the processor one or more alerts following the indication;
• recording and storing the received one or more alerts;
• and
• transmitting a second instruction to the processor to resume the periodic schedule, following the one or more alerts.

An apparatus configured to receive and record radio-broadcasted alerts, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor controlling at least some of the operations of the apparatus;
• a GPS module configured to determine a first set of GPS coordinates corresponding to the location of the apparatus;
• and
• a memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to:
• monitor a radio broadcast;
• detect an indication on the radio broadcast and identify the indication as an indication preceding one or more alerts;
• receive the one or more alerts following the indication;
• determine a second set of GPS coordinates associated with a first alert of the one or more alerts;
• determine a first alert type of the first alert;
• receive a user selection of one or more desired alert types;
• compare the first and second sets of GPS coordinates;
• compare the first alert type of the first alert to the one or more user-selected alert types;
• store the first received alert in the memory of the apparatus based on (1) the comparison of the first and second sets of GPS coordinates, and (2) the comparison of the first alert type of the first alert to the one or more user-selected alert types;
• and
• replay the first stored alert according to user-inputted instructions received via a user interface.

A method of receiving and recording radio-broadcasted alerts, the method comprising:

• monitoring a radio broadcast, wherein monitoring the radio broadcast comprises:
• detecting the radio broadcast from a plurality of broadcast towers;
• displaying a plurality of graphical representations corresponding to the plurality of broadcast towers on a display screen;
• receiving input selecting one of the plurality of graphical representations;
• identifying a first broadcast tower corresponding to the received input;
• and
• monitoring the radio broadcast from the first broadcast tower;
• detecting an indication on the radio broadcast from the first broadcast tower, and identifying the indication as an indication preceding one or more alerts;
• receiving the one or more alerts from the first broadcast tower, following the indication;
• storing the one or more received alerts in a memory;
• and
• replaying the one or more stored alerts according to user-inputted instructions received via a user interface.

A method of receiving and recording radio-broadcasted alerts, the method comprising:

• monitoring a radio broadcast, wherein monitoring the radio broadcast comprises:
• detecting the radio broadcast from a plurality of broadcast towers;
• for each of the plurality of broadcast towers, calculating a variable based on a strength of a signal from said broadcast tower and a signal to noise ratio of the signal from said broadcast tower;
• selecting a first broadcast tower based on said calculations for the plurality of broadcast towers;
• and
• monitoring the radio broadcast from the first broadcast tower;
• detecting an indication on the radio broadcast from the first broadcast tower, and identifying the indication as an indication preceding one or more alerts;
• receiving the one or more alerts from the first broadcast tower, following the indication;
• storing the one or more received alerts in a memory;
• and
• replaying the one or more stored alerts according to user-inputted instructions received via a user interface.