[EAS] Next Generation

[Dave Kline]

That is some interesting stuff Ray.
It seems to be a way to move the problem in the right direction.

Devils advocate mode...
Duplicate streams of data for an EAN?
This assumes that the warning goes out before the warned danger takes down the internet that we all know is most vulnerable and likely to be the first link that fails.

Brainstorming mode...
If we can get around that potential problem then this sounds like a good way to make the system more robust.
Suppose there is a timeout scheme that would allow the EAN to be released after a certain period of time if only one alert was received. I know this puts us back into the hacker sending an alert mode, but maybe someone has a solution for that scenario.
Maybe a dead-man switch arrangement?
The delay would be long enough for human intervention to either cancel a bogus alert or allow a real one to pass.
But then how does a person verify?
And who is that person?
And we are now regressing to some form of manual verification system which may not solve anything.
Just throwing these ideas out for others to build on.

More Devils Advocate mode...
It seems as long as the whole process is fully automated, there is potential for failure, or hacking.
The more we secure against hacking, the less likely we are of getting the alert relayed when needed.
We have pretty much painted ourselves into a corner when it comes to putting a human back in the decision loop, as mistake prone as that is, it may be needed.
If you cannot receive two EANs from two sources then the EAN won't relay.
And what keeps a hacker, or more likely a subversive group of people from hacking both the CAP and legacy at the same time?
And how important is it to keep the genie in the bottle for an alert that has never been used under real circumstances?
And given the public reaction to an accidental or intentional EAN, other than loading up the 911 call center, which is also an issue, are we putting too much importance in over securing something that may only be the "if we can't get the word out any other way" choice to alert the public? 

All that being said, I think your idea, Ray, has a lot of merit if it can be further fleshed out.

Dave

ps "a little code that turns ascii into 2 tone signal,"

If you are speaking of the Two Tone attention signal; that is two sine waves of different frequencies.
It does not carry ascii information.
Did you perhaps mean, a little code that turns ascii into duck farts?

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Dave Kline   UNO-TV / KVNO
University of Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge St. Omaha, NE  68182  CPACS 200