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Systems and methods of alert and notification transmission are contemplated in which a low-range transceiver provides an alert/notification to a plurality of users having a wearable transceiver. Most typically, the low-range transceiver (a) is located in a wide area notification zone and a trigger d

Systems and methods of alert and notification transmission are contemplated in which a low-range transceiver provides an alert/notification to a plurality of users having a wearable transceiver. Most typically, the low-range transceiver (a) is located in a wide area notification zone and a trigger device provides a signal from a wide area notification device to the low-range transceiver and (b) is used to also provide non-emergency notifications to the wearable transceivers. It should be appreciated that transmission of the emergency signal using the low-range transceiver is automatic, while transmission of the non-emergency notifications requires manual user input.

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1. A notification apparatus for use in conjunction with a wide area notification device, comprising: a trigger device electronically coupled to a low-range wireless transceiver, wherein the trigger device has an input module configured to receive a first signal from the wide area emergency notificat

1. A notification apparatus for use in conjunction with a wide area notification device, comprising: a trigger device electronically coupled to a low-range wireless transceiver, wherein the trigger device has an input module configured to receive a first signal from the wide area emergency notification device, and further has an output module configured to provide a second signal to the low-range wireless transceiver in response to the first signal;wherein the low-range wireless transceiver is configured to (a) provide a third signal to at least two wearable wireless transceivers in response to the second signal, (b) provide a fourth signal to at least one of the wearable transceivers in response to a manual operator input by an operator of the low-range wireless transceiver, wherein the fourth signal is a user-specific and event-specific notification signal, and (c) optionally receive a fifth signal, and (d) provide a local audible and/or visible alert notification in response to the first signal;wherein the first and the third signals are an emergency signal, and wherein the third and fourth signals are different and independent from each other;wherein the wearable transceivers are configured to provide a notification to a person in response to at least one of the third and fourth signals, and wherein the wearable transceivers are optionally configured to send the fifth signal; andwherein the person is an individual other than the operator. 2. The notification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wide area notification device is at least one of a siren tower, a tone alert radio, a telephone, a pager, a computer, and a TV set. 3. The notification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trigger device is integral with the wide area notification device. 4. The notification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output module is configured such that the second signal is transmitted to the low-range transceiver via a radio signal or an electric cable. 5. The notification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the low-range transceiver is configured to operate at a frequency and power output that allows operation without a broadcast license. 6. The notification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the third signal is an emergency signal, and wherein the fourth signal is a signal specific to the location of the low-range transceiver. 7. The notification apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wearable transceivers are configured to provide at least one of the third and fourth signal in at least one of a text display format, a verbal audible format, a strobe display, a hot/cold spot, and a vibrating function. 8. A method of providing a notification system, comprising the steps of instructing a user to: operate a low-range transceiver within a wide area notification zone such that the low-range transceiver receives an emergency signal from a trigger device;wherein the trigger device provides the emergency signal to the low-range transceiver in response to a wide area notification emergency signal of a wide area notification device located in the wide area notification zone; anddistribute a plurality of wearable wireless transceivers to a plurality of users, wherein the low-range transceiver is configured to provide a local audible and/or visible alert notification in response to the emergency signal and to transmit a secondary emergency notification signal without user intervention to a plurality of wearable wireless transceivers, and further to transmit a tertiary signal with user intervention by an operator of the low-range transceiver to at least one of the plurality of wearable transceivers, wherein the tertiary signal is a user-specific and event-specific notification signal, wherein the plurality of users are persons other than the operator, and wherein the secondary signal and the tertiary signal are different and independent from each other. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the trigger device is electronically coupled to the wide area notification device. 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the low-range transceiver is configured to operate at a frequency and power output that allows operation without a broadcast license. 11. The method of claim 8 wherein the low-range transceiver is configured to receive a feedback signal from at least one of the wearable transceivers. 12. The method of claim 8 wherein the wearable transceivers are configured as a pendant, a ring, a bracelet, a watch, a key ring, or a pager, and wherein the wearable transceivers are optionally at least one of waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof. 13. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the wearable transceivers is configured to provide a feedback signal to the low-range transceiver. 14. The method of claim 8 wherein the secondary notification signal is an emergency message and the tertiary notification signal is an entertainment or personal message. 15. A method of providing emergency and non-emergency event notification to a plurality of users, comprising: using a low-range transceiver to automatically relay within a wide area notification area a first emergency notification signal from a wide area notification device, and to further provide an audible and/or visible alert notification in response to the first emergency notification signal; andmanually, and independently from the first emergency notification signal, providing a second non-emergency notification signal to at least one of the plurality of users using the low-range transceiver, wherein the non-emergency notification signal is a user-specific and event-specific notification signal that is transmitted by an operator of the low-range transceiver to a wireless transmitter that is worn by a user, wherein the user is a person other than the operator. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein wide area notification device is at least one of a siren tower, a tone alert radio, a telephone, a pager, a computer, and a TV set. 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the wide area notification device and the low-range transceiver are operationally coupled via a trigger device. 18. The method of claim 15 wherein the notification signal has at least one of a text display format, a verbal audible format, a strobe display, a hot/cold spot, and a vibrating function. 19. The method of claim 15 wherein the wireless transmitter is a wearable transceiver. 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising a step of transmitting a feedback signal to the low-range transceiver using the wearable transceiver. 21. A wearable wireless transceiver configured to operate with the notification apparatus of claim 1. 22. A low-range transceiver configured to operate with the notification apparatus of claim 1. 23. A trigger device configured to operate with the notification apparatus of claim 1.