Method and system for using a situational network

• US 10,117,290 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SitNet LLC
• Original Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited
• Inventors: Cona, Thomas, Igoe, Patrick T., Kravets, Leonid, Ehrlacher, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B
• Application Number:
  US15/638,722
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 709219, 709223
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A network system for accessing situation related information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a network connection for receiving an indication of an occurrence of a situation; a situational network formed based on the occurrence of the situation, the situational network including a plurality of participant devices determined to be geographically proximate to the situation, each of the participant devices corresponding to a participant in the situational network; a second network connection for presenting a roll call query to each of the plurality of participant devices soliciting a reply related to a status of the participant; a plurality of network connections established for receiving a status response from the participant devices; and a database for aggregating the status responses from responsive participants into a roll call list.

Claims

1. A network system for accessing situation related information, the system comprising:

a network connection for receiving an indication of an occurrence of a situation;

a situational network formed based on the occurrence of the situation, the situational network including a plurality of participant devices determined to be geographically proximate to the situation, each of the participant devices corresponding to a participant in the situational network;

a second network connection for presenting a roll call query to each of the plurality of participant devices soliciting a reply related to a status of the participant;

a plurality of network connections established for receiving a status response from the participant devices; and

a database for aggregating the status responses from responsive participants into a roll call list.

2. The network system of claim 1, wherein the second network connection is further configured to:

receive a request from one of the responsive participant devices to view the roll call list, transmit the roll call list to the responsive participant device, and receive from the responsive participant device an indication of a status of non-responsive participant.

3. The network system of claim 1, wherein the situation includes at least one of an emergency event, a weather phenomenon, or a natural disaster.

4. The network system of claim 1, wherein the situational network is formed by a situation authority.

5. The network system of claim 4, wherein the situation authority corresponds to a social network organization, and each of the participants are members of the corresponding social network.

6. The network system of claim 1, wherein the status response includes a request for assistance and a location of the participant.

7. The network system of claim 1, wherein non-responding devices are reported to an emergency management organization.

8. A system for forming a situational network and recording situation-related information, the system comprising:

a central server configured to form a situational network related to an occurrence of a situation with a plurality of participant devices determined to be geographically proximate to the situation, each of the participant devices corresponding to a participant in the situational network and aggregate status responses from responsive participant devices into a roll call list;

a network connection configured to receive an indication of an occurrence of a situation, transmit a roll call query to each of the plurality of participant devices soliciting a reply related to a status of the participant, and receive a status response from one or more of the participant devices; and

a database configured to store the status responses and the roll call list.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the network connection is further configured to:

receive a request from one of the responsive participant devices to view the roll call list, transmit the roll call list to the responsive participant device, and receive from the responsive participant device an indication of a status of non-responsive participant.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the situation includes at least one of an emergency event, a weather phenomenon, or a natural disaster.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the situational network is formed by a situation authority.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the situation authority corresponds to a social network organization, and each of the participants are members of the corresponding social network.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the status response includes a request for assistance and a location of the participant.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein non-responding devices are reported to an emergency management organization.