Cellular messaging alert method and system

• US 20040103158A1
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cmas Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: RGA Intl., Inc.
• Inventors: Stradley, Gail F., Watts, William W., DiGiovanni, James T., Vella, Donald J., Ream, Jeffery N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,617,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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

Abstract

An efficient method and system for utilizing existing wireless communication devices and networks, such as cellular phones and carriers, as an underlying infrastructure in providing emergency information to a targeted percentage of the population in a specified geographical location, without requiring individuals to subscribe to an alerting service and without using information solicited from or provided by the intended recipients of the alert.

Claims

1. A method of providing an alert, comprising:

selecting a location for the alert to encompass;

determining the recipients of the alert based on the selected location;

generating the alert; and

delivering the alert to the recipients present in the selected location.

2. A method for providing an alert, comprising:

selecting at least one location for the alert to encompass;

determining at least one phone number based on the selected at least one location, each phone number corresponding to a wireless device;

inputting message data for the alert;

generating an alert message using the message data; and

sending the alert message to each wireless device corresponding to each determined phone number in each selected location.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to sending the alert message, formatting the alert message for delivery to each wireless device based on a cellular carrier currently servicing the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one wireless device corresponding to a determined phone number is a cellular phone.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising sending a notification to an alert originator upon completion of sending the alert message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the notification is sent by e-mail.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising verifying at least one of a user identification and a user password.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the verifying occurs prior to the determining at least one phone number.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to sending the alert message, requiring an alert originator to verbally provide an identifying code for verification.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one location includes connecting to a web site and interacting with the web site to define the at least one location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the connecting to a web site occurs via the Internet.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the connecting to a web site occurs via a dedicated link.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one location is from a list of predefined locations.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one location is through interaction with a predefined image.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one location comprises:

listing all fifty states;

when a state is selected, listing all the counties in the state; and

selecting at least one of the listed counties as the at least one location.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one location comprises:

listing all fifty states;

when a state is selected, listing a plurality of cities located in the state; and

selecting at least one of the listed cities as the at least one location.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one location comprises:

displaying a map of a predefined area;

indicating at least one sub-area within the predefined area; and

converting each sub-area into a corresponding location for the alert.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting at least one location comprises:

connecting to a web site, said web site presenting a map of at least one state;

drawing at least one geometric shape on the map; and

converting each geometric shape into a corresponding location for the alert.

19. The method of claim 2, further comprising, for each selected location:

determining the geographic center of the selected location;

searching outward from the geographic center in a circular pattern; and

reporting a number of wireless devices found for every predetermined outward search distance interval to an alert originator,

wherein when a maximum outward search distance is reached, said searching is halted.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the alert originator can halt said searching at any time.

21. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining at least one phone number includes accessing a database, the database storing phone information including at least a plurality of phone numbers.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the database further stores geographic information including at least one of state information, county information, city information, latitude information, longitude information, horizontal coordinates information, and vertical coordinates information.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein each phone number includes at least a three digit area code, a three digit exchange, and a four digit operating code number.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein information in the database is updated on a periodic basis.

25. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining at least one phone number includes accessing at least one of a Home Location Register database and a Visitor Location Register database to determine whether a particular wireless device corresponding to particular phone number is present in the selected at least one location.

26. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining at least one phone number occurs without using any information directly provided by a potential recipient of the alert.

27. The method of claim 2, wherein the inputting the message data includes connecting to a web site and interacting with the web site to input the message data.

28. The method of claim 2, wherein the inputting the message data comprises:

connecting to a web site;

inputting text data in a predefined input area to represent the message data; and

displaying each character included in the input text data.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising transmitting at least one image to include in the message data.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising displaying a current character count, wherein the current character count indicates a number of text characters that have been input.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising providing a notification when a maximum number of characters for the message data have been entered.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising discarding any additional text characters input after the maximum number of characters for the message data have been entered.

33. The method of claim 2, wherein the inputting the message data comprises:

connecting to a web site;

selecting a particular message from a plurality of predetermined messages; and

assigning the selected particular message as the message data.

34. The method of claim 2, wherein the alert message is sent as a text message.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the text message is an SMS message.

36. A system for providing an alert message, comprising:

a web interface server;

a launch server; and

a system database,

wherein the web interface server, the launch server, and the system database are connected;

wherein an alert originator connects to the web interface server and selects at least one location for the alert to encompass;

wherein the web interface server accesses the system database to determine at least one phone number based on the selected at least one location, each phone number corresponding to a wireless device of a potential alert recipient;

wherein the web interface server collects message data input by the alert originator;

wherein the web interface server transfers at least each determined phone number and the message data to the launch server;

wherein the launch server generates an alert message from the message data; and

wherein the launch server sends the alert message to each wireless device corresponding to each determined phone number in each selected location.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server, the launch server, and the system database are connected by a network connection, and

wherein the web interface server transfers at least each determined phone number and the message data to the launch server over the network connection.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the network connection is an Ethernet connection.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the launch server accesses the system database to determine the address format for each determined phone number based on a cellular carrier currently servicing the wireless device corresponding to each determined phone number, and

wherein the launch server formats the alert message for delivery to a particular wireless device based on the determined address format for the determined phone number corresponding to the particular wireless device.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the launch server determines the address format for a particular determined phone number by using the three digit exchange of the particular determined phone number.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the web interface server writes at least each determined phone number and the message data to a file;

and

wherein the file is transmitted from the web interface server to the launch server over the network connection.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the alert originator connects to the web interface server using the Internet.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the alert originator connects to the web interface server using a dedicated link.

44. The system of claim 36, wherein at least one wireless device corresponding to a determined phone number is a cellular phone.

45. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server and the launch server are integrated into a single server.

46. The system of claim 36, wherein the launch server sends the alert message over the Internet.

47. The system of claim 36, wherein the launch server sends a notification to the alert originator upon completion of sending the alert message.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the notification is sent by e-mail.

49. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server prompts the alert originator to input at least one of a user identification and a user password, and

wherein the web interface server verifies at least one of the user identification and the user password.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the web interface server performs the verification prior to accessing the system database to determine at least one phone number.

51. The system of claim 36, wherein the alert originator must verbally provide an identifying code before the launch server sends the alert message.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the identifying code is provided by calling a human administrator of the system.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the identifying code is changed at random intervals.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the identifying code is unique to the alert originator.

55. The system of claim 36, further comprising a locations database, wherein the locations database stores at least a plurality of phone numbers for at least one predefined location.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the plurality of phone numbers are cellular phone numbers.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein the locations database is integrated with the system database.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein the web interface server accesses the locations database and displays each predefined location, and

wherein the alert originator selects at least one of the displayed predefined locations.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein the alert originator inputs at least one requested location, and

wherein the web interface server accesses the locations database to retrieve the at least one requested location.

60. The system of claim 55, wherein the web interface server allows the alert originator to search the contents of the locations database in order to select at least one predefined location.

61. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server displays a list of all fifty states and when a particular state is selected, the web interface server displays a list of all the counties in the particular state, and

wherein the alert originator selects at least one of the listed counties.

62. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server displays a list of all fifty states and when a particular state is selected, the web interface server displays a list of a plurality of the cities in the particular state, and wherein the alert originator selects at least one of the listed cities.

63. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server displays a map of a predefined area;

wherein the alert originator selects at least one sub-area within the predefined area; and

wherein the web interface server converts each selected sub-area into a corresponding location for the alert.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the alert originator selects the entire predefined area.

65. The system of claim 63, wherein the predefined area is the United States.

66. The system of claim 63, wherein the predefined area is the continental United States.

67. The system of claim 63, wherein the predefined area is at least one of Hawaii and Alaska.

68. The system of claim 63, wherein the predefined area is a subset of the continental United States, said subset including a plurality of contiguous states.

69. The system of claim 63, wherein the web interface server allows the alert originator to draw a geometric shape on the map;

wherein the web interface server converts the geometric shape into a corresponding location for the alert.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the map is in a Mercator format.

71. The system of claim 69, wherein the alert originator draws a particular geometric shape by holding down a button of an input device to indicate a starting point and releasing the button of the input device to indicate an ending point, said starting point and said ending point being used to define the particular geometric shape.

72. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server accesses the system database and for each selected location determines the geographic center of the selected location;

wherein the web interface server searches outward from the geographic center in a circular pattern;

wherein the web interface server reports a number of wireless devices found for every predetermined outward search distance interval to the alert originator; and

wherein when a maximum outward search distance is reached, the web interface server stops the search.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the predetermined outward search distance interval is 25 miles.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein the maximum outward search distance is 100 miles.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein the alert originator can halt the search at any time through interaction with the web interface server.

76. The system of claim 36, wherein the system database stores phone information including at least a plurality of phone numbers.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the system database further stores geographic information including at least one of state information, county information, city information, latitude information, longitude information, horizontal coordinates information, and vertical coordinates information.

78. The system of claim 76, wherein each phone number includes at least a three digit area code, a three digit exchange, and a four digit operating code number.

79. The system of claim 36, wherein information in the system database is updated on a periodic basis.

80. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server accesses at least one of a Home Location Register database and a Visitor Location Register database to determine at least one phone number based on the selected at least one location.

81. The system of claim 36, wherein the launch server accesses at least one of a Home Location Register database and a Visitor Location Register database to determine whether a particular wireless device corresponding to a particular phone number is present in the selected at least one location.

82. The system of claim 36, wherein the launch server sends the alert message to at least one cellular carrier servicing the determined at least one phone number;

and

wherein the launch server instructs messaging hardware of each cellular carrier to deliver the alert message to all of the wireless devices registered in either a Home Location Register database or a Visitor Location Register database of the cellular carrier.

83. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server prompts the alert originator to input the message data for the alert message.

84. The system of claim 83, wherein the web interface server formats the message data for display on a screen of the wireless device corresponding to each determined phone number.

85. The system of claim 83, wherein the web interface server provides a text box for the user to input the message data.

86. The system of claim 83, wherein the web interface server displays a maximum number of characters allowed in the message data.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the web interface server displays a current number of characters corresponding to the number of characters in the text box.

88. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server allows the alert originator to specify the name of at least one image to be included in the message data.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein each image to be included in the message data was previously sent to the web interface server by the alert originator.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein each image to be included in the message data was previously sent to the web interface server by use of at least one of e-mail and File Transfer Protocol.

91. The system of claim 36, wherein the web interface server displays a plurality of predetermined messages;

and

wherein the alert originator selects one of the predetermined messages as the message data.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein the alert originator edits the message data corresponding to the selected predetermined message.

93. The system of claim 36, wherein the launch server sends the alert message to each wireless device as a text message.

94. The system of claim 36, wherein the text message is an SMS message.

95. The system of claim 36, wherein the only precondition for being a potential alert recipient is possessing an activated cellular phone.

96. A system for providing an alert, comprising:

selection means for selecting at least one location for the alert to encompass;

reception means for determining at least one recipient for the alert based on the selected at least one location;

display means for displaying information to an alert originator;

input means for inputting message data for the alert;

generation means for generating an alert message using the message data; and

transmission means for sending the alert message to each recipient present in the selected at least one location.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein the reception means determines a phone number for each recipient.

98. The system of claim 96, further comprising storage means for storing information on a plurality of potential recipients capable of receiving messages from the system and on all of the locations serviced by the system.

99. The system of claim 96, further comprising format means for formatting the alert message to comply with the format required for delivery to a particular recipient.

100. The system of claim 96, further comprising notification means for notifying the alert originator of a successful transmission of the alert message.

101. The system of claim 96, further comprising verification means for verifying the authority of the alert originator.

102. The system of claim 96, further comprising presence means for determining whether each recipient is currently present in the selected at least one location.

103. An alert system interface server, comprising:

a display module for displaying information to an alert originator;

a location reception module for receiving geographic data corresponding to at least one location for an alert message to encompass;

a message reception module for receiving message data to be included in the alert message;

a population module for determining at least one recipient for the alert message based on the at least one location; and

a transmission module for transmitting the at least one location, the message data, and the at least one recipient.

104. The alert system interface server of claim 103, wherein the location reception module receives the geographic data via the Internet;

and wherein the message reception module receives the message data via the Internet.

105. The alert system interface server of claim 103, further comprising a presence detection module for determining whether each recipient is currently present in the selected at least one location.

106. An alert system launch server, comprising:

an alert reception module for receiving alert data, said alert data includes at least one location for the alert to encompass, message data to be included in an alert message, and at least one intended recipient of the alert message;

a generation module for generating the alert message from the alert data;

a format module for formatting the alert message to comply with the format required for delivery to a particular recipient; and

an alert transmission module for transmitting the alert message to each intended recipient.

107. The alert system launch server of claim 106, wherein the alert transmission module transmits the alert message via the Internet.

108. The alert system launch server of claim 106, further comprising a presence detection module for determining whether each recipient is currently present in the selected at least one location.

109. The alert system launch server of claim 106, further comprising a notification module for notifying an alert originator of a successful transmission of the alert message.

110. A computer program product for enabling a computer to provide an alert, comprising:

software instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations, and

a computer readable medium bearing the software instructions;

wherein the predetermined operations include;

selecting at least one location for the alert to encompass;

determining at least one phone number based on the selected at least one location, each phone number corresponding to a wireless device;

inputting message data for the alert;

generating an alert message using the message data; and

sending the alert message to each wireless device corresponding to each determined phone number in each selected location.

111. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the predetermined operations further include prior to sending the alert message, formatting the alert message for delivery to each wireless device based on a cellular carrier currently servicing the wireless device.

112. The computer program product of claim 111, wherein at least one wireless device corresponding to a determined phone number is a cellular phone.

113. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the predetermined operations further include sending a notification to an alert originator upon completion of sending the alert message.

114. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the predetermined operations further include verifying at least one of a user identification and a user password.

115. The computer program product of claim 114, wherein the verifying occurs prior to the determining at least one phone number.

116. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the predetermined operations further include prior to sending the alert message, requiring an alert originator to verbally provide an identifying code for verification.

117. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the selecting at least one location includes connecting to a web site and interacting with the web site to define the at least one location.

118. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the selecting at least one location is from a list of predefined locations.

119. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the selecting at least one location is through interaction with a predefined image.

120. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the selecting at least one location comprises:

listing all fifty states;

when a state is selected, listing all the counties in the state; and

selecting at least one of the listed counties as the at least one location.

121. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the selecting at least one location comprises:

listing all fifty states;

when a state is selected, listing a plurality of cities located in the state; and

selecting at least one of the listed cities as the at least one location.

122. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the selecting at least one location comprises:

displaying a map of a predefined area;

indicating at least one sub-area within the predefined area; and

converting each sub-area into a corresponding location for the alert.

123. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the selecting at least one location comprises:

connecting to a web site, said web site presenting a map of at least one state;

drawing at least one geometric shape on the map; and

converting each geometric shape into a corresponding location for the alert.

124. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the predetermined operations further include for each selected location:

determining the geographic center of the selected location;

searching outward from the geographic center in a circular pattern; and

reporting a number of wireless devices found for every predetermined outward search distance interval to an alert originator,

wherein when a maximum outward search distance is reached, said searching is halted.

125. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the determining at least one phone number includes accessing a database, the database storing phone information including at least a plurality of phone numbers.

126. The computer program product of claim 125, wherein the database further stores geographic information including at least one of state information, county information, city information, latitude information, longitude information, horizontal coordinates information, and vertical coordinates information.

127. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the determining at least one phone number includes accessing at least one of a Home Location Register database and a Visitor Location Register database to determine whether a particular wireless device corresponding to particular phone number is present in the selected at least one location.

128. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the inputting the message data includes connecting to a web site and interacting with the web site to input the message data.

129. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the inputting the message data comprises:

connecting to a web site;

inputting text data in a predefined input area to represent the message data; and

displaying each character included in the input text data.

130. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the predetermined operations further include transmitting at least one image to include in the message data.

131. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the predetermined operations further include displaying a current character count, wherein the current character count indicates a number of text characters that have been input.

132. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the predetermined operations further include providing a notification when a maximum number of characters for the message data have been entered.

133. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the predetermined operations further include discarding any additional text characters input after the maximum number of characters for the message data have been entered.

134. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the inputting the message data comprises:

connecting to a web site;

selecting a particular message from a plurality of predetermined messages; and

assigning the selected particular message as the message data.

135. The computer program product of claim 110, wherein the alert message is sent as a text message.

136. The computer program product of claim 135, wherein the text message is an SMS message.