Alert system and method for geographic or natural disasters utilizing a telecommunications network

• US 20040075552A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Far Eastone Telecommunications Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Far Eastone Telecommunications Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Yi-Chun, Lee, Chih-Kung, Hsu, Ching-Hsiang, Chen, Chun-Kuang, Wu, Wen-Jong, Hsiao, Wen-Hsin, Hung, Jung Nan, Rao, Herman, Chen, Yih-Fan
• Granted Patent: US 6,914,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network

Abstract

The invention advantageously provides an alert system and method for geographic or natural disasters that utilize a telecommunications network for monitoring geographic data in disaster-prone areas and accordingly issuing warnings against potential disasters to people inside the monitored area. An alert system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a telecommunications service network, one or more wireless sensor modules and a control center. The telecommunications network according to this particular embodiment includes service coverage over the monitored areas. The wireless sensor modules are installed to selected locations inside monitored areas. Each of the sensor modules further comprises at least one sensor for collecting geographic or geodetic data and a wireless communications unit for sending collected geographic data to the control center via the telecommunications network. The control center then receives and processes the monitored geographic or geodetic data sent by the wireless sensor modules for further algorithmic analysis. The control center accordingly issues alert for imminent geographic or natural disasters if the processing of the geographic or geodetic data produces adverse results.

Claims

1. An alert system for monitoring disasters in at least one monitored area, the system comprising:

a telecommunications network having service coverage over said at least one monitored area;

at least one wireless sensor module provided at a selected location inside said at least one monitored area, each of said at least one module further comprising at least one sensor for collecting geographic and geological data and a wireless communications unit for transmitting said collected data; and

a control center for processing said collected data and determining a likelihood of disaster based on said collected data, said control center issuing a disaster alert if the likelihood of disaster is determined to be relatively high.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications network is a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless sensor module further comprises a mobile communications device supporting Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications service.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications network is a civil band (CB) radio network.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one alert issue station relaying said disaster alert throughout said at least one monitored area.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications network further comprises a long-distance radio communications system for providing communications coverage for said at least one monitored area.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a microcontroller connected to said at least one wireless sensor module for relaying said collected data to said control center.

8. The system of claim 1, said at least one wireless sensor module further comprising photo interrupters, proximity switches, sliding switches, mercury switches, ultrasonic sensors and strain gauges.

9. The system of claim 1, said collected data further comprising water level, earth movement, position shifts, vibration and acceleration.

10. The system of claim 1, said at least one wireless sensor module further comprising a power supply providing operational power thereto.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface (UI); and

a geographic information system (GIS) providing operating information for said alert system.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sensory and communication control (SCC) setting operating parameters for said at least one wireless sensor module and overseeing maintenance operations.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a decision and support subsystem (DSS) setting processing priorities for said collected data.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data processing subsystem (DPS) for processing said collected data.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising a weather data receiving subsystem (WDRS) gathering weather information.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an alert and rescue management subsystem (ARMS); and

a database and web server subsystem (DWSS).

17. The system of claim 11, said operating information further comprising location of mudflow, geological conditions in said at least one monitored area, location of said at least one wireless sensor module.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said database and web service subsystem (DWSS) stores information comprising subscriber information to said alert system, location and total number of said at least one wireless sensor module, geographic and geological conditions of said at least one monitored area.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said database and web service subsystem (DWSS) hosts a web service allowing access to said alert system.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless communications unit operates in a transmission mode comprising Short Message Service (SMS), Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

21. A method for monitoring disasters in at least one geographic area comprising the steps of:

providing communications coverage over said at least one monitored area with a telecommunications network;

providing at least one wireless sensor module in said at least one monitored area;

collecting geographic and geological data in said at least one monitored area;

processing said collected data at a control center;

determining a likelihood of disaster based on said collected data; and

issuing a disaster alert if the likelihood of disaster is determined to be relatively high.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said telecommunications network is a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said telecommunications network is a civil band (CB) radio network.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of relaying said disaster alert throughout said at least one monitored area.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of relaying said collected data to said control center using a microcontroller connected to said at least one wireless sensor module.

26. The method of claim 21, said collected data further comprising water level, earth movement, position shifts, vibration and acceleration.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of providing operating information for said alert system using a geographic information system (GIS).

28. The method of claim 27, said operating information further comprising location of mudflow, geological conditions in said at least one monitored area, location of said at least one wireless sensor module.

29. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of setting operating parameters for said at least one wireless sensor module and overseeing maintenance operations using a sensory and communication control (SCC).

30. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of gathering weather information using a weather data receiving subsystem (WDRS).

31. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of setting processing priorities for said collected data.

32. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of providing subscriber information to said alert system, location and total number of said at least one wireless sensor module, geographic and geological conditions of said at least one monitored area in a database and web service subsystem (DWSS).

33. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of hosting a web service for allowing access to said alert system.

34. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of operating said at least one wireless sensor module in a Short Message Service (SMS) mode.

35. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of operating said at least one wireless sensor module in an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) mode.

36. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of operating said at least one wireless sensor module in a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mode.