A severe weather warning system is provided including an indicator mechanism adapted for providing an indication of a weather disturbance upon the receipt thereof. A modem has an outlet port connected to a conventional phone and an inlet port connected to a telecommunication network. During use, the modem has a first mode of operation for allowing the transfer of audio signals between the inlet port and the outlet port and a second mode of operation for when a weather disturbance is detected. Next provided is control circuitry adapted for transmitting to the indicator means the indication of a weather disturbance. Finally, a central control base includes a source of weather data for supplying a geographical location of a weather disturbance and a description of the weather disturbance, a subscriber database having stored therein a plurality of phone numbers of users and further the geographical location thereof, a modem adapted for calling a phone number, and a computer adapted to effect the transmission of the indication of a weather disturbance by the indicator means upon the detection of a weather disturbance by the source of weather data. Such phone number corresponds to a user residing within a geographical location wherein a weather disturbance is present as indicated by the source of weather data.

A method and apparatus for disseminating emergency warning information via a telecommunication network via a telecommunication network is disclosed. After a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) has decided to issue a warning regarding an impending emergency to a specific area, the LEPC dials a group emergency telephone number to issue a warning to any subscriber of the group emergency telephone number. The warning, which may be audio and/or visual, informs the subscriber of the impending emergency and/or the necessary actions that needs to be taken by the subscriber. By sending the warning via a telecommunication network, a large number of people can be contacted with specific details of the impending emergency within a short period of time.

An emergency alert communication system comprising a radio frequency receiver. The radio frequency receiver decodes incoming emergency alert signals and demodulates data header signals and emergency alert voice message signals of the emergency alert signals. Included in the data header signals are event and location code signals, which are followed by the emergency alert voice message signals. The demodulated data header signals in the form of digital data header signals are applied to a microcontroller. A telephone keypad of a telephone device is actuated to enter into the microcontroller event and location code signals. Should the event and location code signals demodulated by the receiver and applied to the microcontroller match the event and location code signals entered into the microcontroller by the telephone keypad, the microcontroller routes through an audio switching circuit the emergency alert voice message signals to a speaker, a recording device and a telephone handset of a telephone device. The radio frequency receiver, the microcontroller, the telephone handset, the telephone keypad, the speaker, and the recording device are embodied in the telephone device.

A radio receiver with an integrated telephone device (1) is proposed, which is used for switching of loudspeakers (20, 21, 22, 23) between radio reception and telephone reception. In the telephone mode the loudspeakers (20, . . . , 23), which can be connected to the radio receiver, are switched to telephone reception, and when a preset signal is received by the radio receiver, preferably an information signal for traffic reports which has been modulated on a 57 kHz auxiliary carrier, the loudspeakers (20, . . . , 23) are partially switched over to radio reception. In the radio reception mode the loudspeakers (20, . . . 23), which can be connected to the radio receiver, are switched to radio reception, and in case of a loop allocation in the telephone device (1) for receiving an incoming and/or outgoing call, the loudspeakers (20, . . . , 23) are at least partially switched over to telephone reception. Switching of the loudspeakers (20, . . . , 23) can take place by means of a control circuit; (5), which additionally is used for acoustically processing audio signals. Various preset allocations of the loudspeakers (20, . . . , 23) to telephone and radio signals can be selected by a user by means of an operating unit (30) connected with the control circuit (5).

A cordless digital telephone system which allows broadcast over broadcast is provided. Time division multiple access (TDMA) cordless phone systems provide a base unit which is able to provide connections for a plurality of mobile units, such as handsets. With time division, the mobile units are synchronized to different time slots. A broadcast mode is provided that causes the mobile units to be placed in a receive only mode and to synchronize to the same time slot where a broadcast message is sent. In this way, a cordless telephone base unit in a broadcast mode receives a radio or streaming audio signal. A call controller unit included in or coupled to the base station then sends the received radio or streaming audio signal to at least one mobile unit in communication with the base station. In those cases where a mobile unit is receiving the broadcast and a conventional phone call is received at the base station, then a determination is made whether or not to send the conventional call to the mobile unit is made. In those cases where the conventional call is to be forwarded, then the base station is set to standard mode and the conventional call is forwarded to the mobile unit whereas any other mobile unit in communication with the base station still receive the broadcast.