User-centric event reporting with follow-up information

• US 10,522,022 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: User-Centric IP, L.P. (Locator IP LP)
• Original Assignee: User-Centric IP, L.P. (Locator IP LP)
• Inventors: Smith, Michael R., O'Neil, Perry Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Nghiem, Michael P
• Application Number:
  US11/854,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,493 Days
• Field of Search: 702 2- 3, 702 58- 59, 702188, 340905, 340990, 340517-518, 4554143, 455419, 4554041, 4554042, 455560
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for receiving hazard and event information in a mobile unit and using that information to warn a user of an event or future hazard with reference to the mobile unit'"'"'s location and/or intended direction of travel. A hazard location algorithm compares a forecast location of each mobile unit with a forecast hazard and transmits a warning to each mobile unit that is predicted to encounter the hazard. As the mobile unit moves, its actual position is updated in an event center, and a revised warning is transmitted to the mobile unit as applicable. Warnings include audio warnings for playback and/or visual warnings for display on the mobile device. Users may also wirelessly report events or hazards to a central server in an event center by sending data to the event center via a wireless communications network. Secondary information may be included, based on the selected event type.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a computer program for a mobile data processing device, the computer program including a user interface;

providing functionality, via the user interface, for a user to report a hazardous event;

providing functionality, via the user interface, for the user to specify a location within a venue by inputting or selecting a location designation defined by the venue;

receiving, by a server, information from the mobile data processing device corresponding to a hazardous event within the venue, the information including a type of hazardous event and the location designation input or selected by the user; and

outputting, by the server, information including the type of hazardous event and the location designation input or selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile data processing device is a cell phone, laptop computer, tablet computer, or personal digital assistant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface includes functionality for the user to input or select the type of hazardous event within the venue; and

the information received by the server includes the type of hazardous event as input or selected by the user via the user interface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the user interface includes a constrained set of event types and functionality for the user to select one of the event types; and

the information received by the server includes the type of hazardous event selected by the user from the constrained set of event types via the user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazardous event is a medical event or an individual or device causing or threatening to cause bodily harm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information including the type of hazardous event and the location of the hazardous event is output by the server to a display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information including the type of hazardous event and the location of the hazardous event is output by the server to a second mobile data processing device.