Method and apparatus for activating warning devices

• US 20020080038A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: User-Centric IP, L.P. (Locator IP LP)
• Original Assignee: WeatherData, Inc. (Accuweather Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,646,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 10/40 Controlling or monitoring, e.g. of flood or hurricane; Forecasting, e.g. risk assessment or mapping

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for activating one or more warning devices, such as weather warning sirens, environmental warning devices, flash flood gates, and the like, from a remote or central location. Warning devices situated across geographically dispersed areas can be remotely controlled from a central location, such as a weather center, on the basis of detected and predicted weather patterns and other environmentally hazardous events. One or more warning devices can be quickly and easily activated through a computer-implemented user interface that allows a user to select a group of warning devices that are in the path of an approaching hazardous event. Each warning device is activated through a communication line that transmits an activation code to each device. Each device provides confirmation that it has been activated, and the resulting activation is indicated on a computer screen.

Claims

1. A method of remotely activating a selected one or more of a plurality of warning devices, comprising the steps of:

(1) at a location of a hazardous event, observing conditions associated with the hazardous event;

(2) from the location of the hazardous event, wirelessly transmitting an activation code, wherein the activation code corresponds to a specified one of the plurality of warning devices; and

(3) in response to receiving the activation code, activating the specified one of the plurality of warning devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises the step of using an input device of a handheld computing device to select one of the plurality of warning devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (2) comprises the step of selecting the one warning device based on a geographic display of warning devices appearing on the handheld computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (2) comprises sending an activation code from a wireless telephone.

5. A computer-implemented method of activating a warning device, comprising the steps of:

(1) displaying on a computer display device hazardous event information for a particular geographic region and displaying on the same display device information representing the geographic location of a plurality of warning devices;

(2) selecting one or more of the plurality of warning devices displayed on the computer display device; and

(3) remotely activating the one or more warning devices selected in step (ii).

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein step (1) comprises the step of displaying an actual or predicted flash flood location as part of the hazardous event information.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein at least one warning device comprises a flood gate, and step (3) comprises closing the flood gate.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein step (1) comprises the step of displaying a predicted hazardous chemical plume as part of the hazardous condition information.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein step (1) comprises the step of displaying a predicted future path of a hazardous chemical plume in relation to the plurality of warning devices.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein step (1) comprises the step of displaying a predicted lightning strike location as part of the hazardous condition information.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein step (1) comprises the step of displaying a predicted future lightning strike in relation to the plurality of warning devices.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein step (2) comprises the step of using a computer input device to encircle a plurality of warning devices on the computer display device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein step (3) comprises the step of prompting a user for an authentication code prior to activating the one or more warning devices.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein step (2) is performed automatically by computer without human intervention.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein steps (2) and (3) are both performed automatically by computer.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising the step of activating additional warning devices based on an updated prediction of the hazardous event.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

(4) receiving a confirmation signal from each warning device that was activated; and

(5) displaying on the computer display an indication that each warning device was activated.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising the step of receiving from an external source information identifying the location of the hazardous event, and wherein step (2) includes selecting warning devices based on the location of the hazardous event.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein steps (1) to (3) are performed at a centrally located prediction center located in a first municipal area, and wherein the plurality of warning devices are located in a second municipal area.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, further comprising the step of repeating steps (1) to (3) from the central prediction center for a plurality of different geographically dispersed areas having different networks of warning devices.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising the step of receiving information from a spotter regarding an observed location of a specific hazardous event, and wherein step (2) comprises the step of using the observed location of the specific hazardous event to select the one or more warning devices.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein steps (1) to (3) are performed in a geographic region in which the warning devices are located.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein step (3) comprises the step of activating the selected warning devices over a frame relay network from a central location located at great distance from the warning devices.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein step (2) comprises the step of using a computer input device to manually encircle a group of warning devices displayed on a computer display.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein step (2) is performed automatically by a computer without human intervention.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein steps (2) and (3) are performed automatically by a computer without human intervention.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein steps (1) through (3) are repeated for a plurality of different geographic regions from the central location.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising the step of receiving information at the central location from a witness of the hazardous condition and using the witness information to perform step (2).

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, further comprising the step of receiving confirmation from each activated warning device and, in response thereto, updating a computer display.

31. The computer implemented method of claim 24, wherein the hazardous event comprises a meteorological phenomenon.

32. The computer implemented method of claim 24, wherein the hazardous event comprises hazardous airborne chemicals.

33. The computer implemented method of claim 24, wherein the hazardous event comprises air pollution.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein in step (2) each of the remote devices comprises a television, and step (3) comprises sending information to be displayed on each selected television.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein in step (2) each of the remote devices comprises a handheld computing device, and step (3) comprises sending information to at least one handheld computing device, thereby causing the at least one handheld device to display on a display screen associated with the handheld device information about the hazardous event.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein in step (2) each of the remote devices comprises a mobile telephone, and step (3) comprises sending information to each mobile telephone, thereby causing each mobile telephone to alert a user associated with the mobile telephone.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein step (3) comprises causing each mobile telephone to play an audible warning.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 37, wherein step (3) comprises causing each mobile telephone to display a message on a display screen associated with the mobile telephone.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein step (2) comprises using a computer input device to encircle a plurality of remote devices displayed on a display device.

24. A computer-implemented method of activating a warning device, comprising the steps of.

(1) at a central location that generates predictions corresponding to hazardous conditions, detecting that a hazardous event is likely to strike a given geographic location;

(2) at the central location, using a computer to compare the location of the hazardous event to a plurality of geographically dispersed warning devices located in a geographic region different from the central location and selecting one or more of the geographically dispersed warning devices in response to the comparison; and

(3) remotely activating the selected one or more geographically dispersed warning devices.

34. A computer-implemented method for notifying a remote device, comprising the steps of:

(1) at a central location, receiving hazardous condition information for a particular geographic region,

(2) selecting one or more of a plurality of remote devices that are predicted to be affected by a hazardous event corresponding to the hazardous condition information; and

(3) sending alert information to the remote devices selected in step (2).

41. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a system comprised of at least one computer to perform a method for notifying a remote device, comprising the steps of:

(1) at a central location, receiving hazardous condition information for a particular geographic region,

(2) selecting one or more of a plurality of remote devices that are predicted to be affected by a hazardous event corresponding to the hazardous condition information; and

(3) sending alert information to the remote devices selected in step (2).

42. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein in step (2) each of the remote devices comprises a television, and step (3) comprises sending information to be displayed on each selected television.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein in step (2) each of the remote devices comprises a handheld computing device, and step (3) comprises sending information to at least one handheld computing device, thereby causing the at least one handheld device to display on a display screen associated with the handheld device information about the hazardous event.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein in step (2) each of the remote devices comprises a mobile telephone, and step (3) comprises sending information to each mobile telephone, thereby causing each mobile telephone to alert a user associated with the mobile telephone.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein step (3) comprises causing each mobile telephone to play an audible warning.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein step (3) comprises causing each mobile telephone to display a message on a display screen associated with the mobile telephone.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein step (2) comprises using a computer input device to encircle a plurality of remote devices displayed on a display device.

49. The computer-implemented method of claim 48, wherein in step (2) the mobile warning device comprises a handheld computing device.

50. The computer-implemented method of claim 48, wherein in step (2) the mobile warning device comprises a mobile telephone.

48. A computer-implemented method of activating a warning device, comprising the steps of:

(1) at a central location, receiving hazardous condition information;

(2) receiving location information from a mobile warning device;

(3) updating the mobile warning device'"'"'s position in a device array comprising a plurality of warning devices;

(4) selecting one or more of the plurality of warning devices based on the received hazardous condition information; and

(5) remotely activating the one or more warning devices selected in step (4).

51. A data processing system comprising a processor and memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the system to perform a method for notifying a remote device, comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving hazardous condition information for a particular geographic region,

(2) selecting one or more of a plurality of remote devices that are predicted to be affected by a hazardous event corresponding to the hazardous condition information; and

(3) sending alert information to the remote devices selected in step (2).

52. The data processing system of claim 51, wherein in step (2) each of the remote devices comprises a television, and step (3) comprises sending information to be displayed on each selected television.

53. The data processing system of claim 51, wherein in step (2) each of the remote devices comprises a handheld computing device, and step (3) comprises sending information to at least one handheld computing device, thereby causing the at least one handheld device to display on a display screen associated with the handheld device information about the hazardous event.

54. The data processing system of claim 51, wherein in step (2) each of the remote devices comprises a mobile telephone, and step (3) comprises sending information to each mobile telephone, thereby causing each mobile telephone to alert a user associated with the mobile telephone.

55. The data processing system of claim 54, wherein step (3) comprises causing each mobile telephone to play an audible warning.

56. The data processing system of claim 54, wherein step (3) comprises causing each mobile telephone to display a message on a display screen associated with the mobile telephone.

57. The data processing system of claim 51, wherein step (2) comprises using a computer input device to encircle a plurality of remote devices displayed on a display device.