Alert notification system

• US 20050013417A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel W. Davis, Steven L. Zimmers
• Original Assignee: Daniel W. Davis, Steven L. Zimmers
• Inventors: Davis, Daniel W., Zimmers, Steven L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66

Abstract

A system for providing alert notifications to multiple persons or to a plurality of related geographic locations. The system stores a database of information including a plurality of communications identifiers and additional information for subscribers having those identifiers, including geographic locations and/or school/organization membership information. The system responds to commands identifying alerts to be delivered to affected geographic areas or schools/organizations, by retrieving communications identifiers in the threatened geographic location or associated with the named school/organization, establishing a communications connection using each retrieved communication identifier, and delivering the alert. Alerts may be initiated by authorized personnel via telephone or Internet interaction with the system, or may be generated automatically from data feeds such as the EMWIN system of the National Weather Service. Alerts may be delivered via telephone, pager (voice or text), e-mail, Internet, or other media.

Claims

1. A system for providing a warning signal to a plurality of locations on a geographic basis, comprising:

a database storing a plurality of communications identifiers, and associating each said identifier with a geographic location thereof,

a computer system responding to a command identifying a geographic area and a warning to be provided to said geographic area, by retrieving from said database, communications identifiers associated with geographic locations within said geographic area, establishing a communications connection using each retrieved communication identifier and delivering said warning via said communications connection.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is located in a geographic location distant from at least some of the geographic locations identified within said database.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer system comprises a host computer storing said database, and a host-controlled telephone switch for receiving telephone identifiers and audio messages from said host computer for delivery to said telephone identifiers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications identifiers are identifiers for use with a publicly switched telephonic communications system.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said communications identifiers are telephone numbers.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said telephone numbers comprise an area code, exchange number and telephone number.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said telephone numbers further comprise a country code.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications identifiers are electronic mail addresses for use with a computer network.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said computer network is a global computer network.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications identifiers are Internet protocol addresses for use with an Internet protocol computer network.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer system further comprises a threat identification system for receiving threat information, said threat identification system evaluating said threat information to identify a geographic area subject to a threat and in response generate said command identifying said geographic area and a warning related to the identified threat.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said threat identification system identifies weather threats applicable to said geographic area.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said threat identification system comprises an communications connection to a National Weather Service information service.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said communications connection is an Internet connection, said threat identification system receiving text information describing weather conditions and comprising a parser for parsing said text information to identify weather threats and geographic areas to which said threats apply.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said warning signal identifies a weather threat applicable to said geographic area.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said warning signal warns of hazardous atmospheric conditions applicable to said geographic area.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said warning signal warns of poor air quality in said geographic area.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said warning signal warns of a toxic release in said geographic area.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein said warning signal warns of harmful radiation in said geographic area.

22. A system for providing an atmospheric condition announcement to a plurality of persons, comprising:

a database storing a plurality of communications identifiers for persons in need of atmospheric condition information,

a computer system responding to a command identifying an atmospheric condition to be announced to said persons, by retrieving from said database, communications identifiers associated with said persons, establishing a communications connection using each retrieved communication identifier and delivering an announcement of said atmospheric condition via said communications connection.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said system is located in a geographic location distant from at least some of the persons identified within said database.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer system comprises a host computer storing said database, and a host-controlled telephone switch for receiving telephone identifiers and audio messages from said host computer for delivery to said persons.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said communications identifiers are identifiers for use with a publicly switched telephonic communications system.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said communications identifiers are telephone numbers.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said telephone numbers comprise an area code, exchange number and telephone number.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said telephone numbers further comprise a country code.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein said communications identifiers are electronic mail addresses for use with a computer network.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said computer network is a global computer network.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein said communications identifiers are Internet protocol addresses for use with an Internet protocol computer network.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

34. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer system further comprises an atmospheric threat identification system for receiving atmospheric threat information, said threat identification system evaluating said atmospheric threat information to identify persons subject to an atmospheric threat and in response generate said command identifying said announcement related to the identified threat.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said threat identification system identifies weather threats.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said threat identification system comprises an communications connection to a National Weather Service information service.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said communications connection is an Internet connection, said threat identification system receiving text information describing weather conditions and comprising a parser for parsing said text information to identify weather threats.

38. The system of claim 22 wherein said atmospheric announcement identifies a weather threat applicable to persons receiving the message.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said warning signal warns of hazardous atmospheric conditions applicable to said geographic area.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said warning signal warns of poor air quality in said geographic area.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein said warning signal warns of a toxic release in said geographic area.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein said warning signal warns of harmful radiation in said geographic area.

43. A system for providing announcements to a plurality of persons, comprising:

a database storing a plurality of communications identifiers, and associating each communications identifier with data useful for determining whether particular information is to be communicated to said communications identifier,

a computer system responding to a command identifying an announcement to be announced to interested persons, by retrieving from said database, communications identifiers associated with persons to whom said announcement is to be communicated, establishing a communications connection using each retrieved communication identifier and delivering said announcement via said communications connection.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said system is located in a geographic location distant from at least some of the locations reached by the communications identifiers identified within said database.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein said computer system comprises a host computer storing said database, and a host-controlled telephone switch for receiving telephone identifiers and audio messages from said host computer for delivery to said telephone numbers.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein said communications identifiers are identifiers for use with a publicly switched telephonic communications system.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein said communications identifiers are telephone numbers.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said telephone numbers comprise an area code, exchange number and telephone number.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said telephone numbers further comprise a country code.

50. The system of claim 43 wherein said communications identifiers are electronic mail addresses for use with a computer network.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said computer network is a global computer network.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

53. The system of claim 43 wherein said communications identifiers are Internet protocol addresses for use with an Internet protocol computer network.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

55. The system of claim 43 wherein said computer system further comprises an atmospheric threat identification system for receiving atmospheric threat information, said threat identification system evaluating said atmospheric threat information to identify communications identifiers for locations subject to an atmospheric threat and in response generate said command identifying said announcement related to the identified threat.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein said threat identification system identifies weather threats.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein said threat identification system comprises an communications connection to a National Weather Service information service.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein said communications connection is an Internet connection, said threat identification system receiving text information describing weather conditions and comprising a parser for parsing said text information to identify weather threats.

59. The system of claim 43 wherein said atmospheric announcement identifies a weather threat applicable to persons receiving the message.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein said warning signal warns of hazardous atmospheric conditions applicable to said geographic area.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein said warning signal warns of poor air quality in said geographic area.

62. The system of claim 60 wherein said warning signal warns of a toxic release in said geographic area.

63. The system of claim 60 wherein said warning signal warns of harmful radiation in said geographic area.

64. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement identifies unavailability of a public service at a particular time.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein said announcement identifies a school closing.

66. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement identifies a traffic condition.

67. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement identifies an unscheduled closing of a public place.

68. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement identifies a change in a regularly scheduled activity.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein said regularly scheduled activity is the movements of a public transportation system.

70. The system of claim 68 wherein said regularly scheduled activity is the hours of business of a place of public accommodation.