Emergency Reporting System

• US 20070072583A1
• Filed: 09/25/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of South Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Labrador, Miguel, Georggi, Nevine, Perez, Rafael, Winters, Philip, Barbeau, Sean, Dos Santos, Sasha
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

Provided is an emergency locator system adapted for GPS-enabled wireless devices. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is and Location Based Services (LBS) are used to determine the exact location of a user and communicate information relating to the emergency status of that location. The user initiates the locator application via a wireless device and their physical location information is automatically transferred to a server. The server then compares the user'"'"'s location with Geographic Information System (GIS) maps to identify the emergency status associated with their location. Once the server has calculated the current emergency status, the information is automatically returned to the user, along with emergency instructions.

Claims

1. A method of communicating emergency information to a user, comprising the steps of:

establishing a predefined geographic area having a plurality of emergency identifiers;

establishing the user'"'"'s location within the predefined geographic location;

selecting the emergency identifier associated with the user'"'"'s location within the predefined geographic location;

transmitting the selected emergency identifier to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency identifier is a value associated with an evacuation zone or threat level.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user'"'"'s location within the predefined geographic area is established responsive to a telephone call from the user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the telephone call from the user is made using a wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the user'"'"'s location is transmitted through a multimedia messaging service.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency identifier is transmitted to the user through a multimedia messaging service.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting information corresponding to the emergency identifier to the user.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the information corresponding to the emergency identifier are sent in the format selected from the group consisting of text, audio, images, video and a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the information corresponding to the emergency identifier is selected from the group consisting of severe weather warnings, civil emergency information, evacuation directions, instructions to seek shelter and instructions to receive more information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency identifier is selected by comparing the user'"'"'s location with a Geographic Information System map.

11. A method of communicating emergency information to a user, comprising the steps of:

establishing a predefined geographic area having a plurality of emergency identifiers;

establishing the user'"'"'s location within the predefined geographic location responsive to a wireless signal initiated by the user;

selecting the emergency identifier associated with the user'"'"'s location within the predefined geographic location by comparing the user'"'"'s location with a Geographic Information System map;

transmitting the selected emergency identifier to the user.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the emergency identifier is a value associated with an evacuation zone or threat level.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the user'"'"'s location is transmitted through a multimedia messaging service.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the emergency identifier is transmitted to the user through a multimedia messaging service.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting information corresponding to the emergency identifier to the user.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the information corresponding to the emergency identifier are sent in the format selected from the group consisting of text, audio, images, video and a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the information corresponding to the emergency identifier is selected from the group consisting of severe weather warnings, civil emergency information, evacuation directions, instructions to seek shelter and instructions to receive more information.

18. A method of communicating emergency information to a user, comprising the steps of:

establishing a predefined geographic area having a plurality of emergency identifiers;

establishing the user'"'"'s location within the predefined geographic location responsive to a wireless signal initiated by the user;

selecting the emergency identifier associated with the user'"'"'s location within the predefined geographic location by comparing the user'"'"'s location with a Geographic Information System map;

transmitting the selected emergency identifier to the user; and

transmitting information corresponding to the emergency identifier to the user.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the emergency identifier is a value associated with an evacuation zone or threat level.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the user'"'"'s location is transmitted through a multimedia messaging service.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the emergency identifier is transmitted to the user through a multimedia messaging service.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the information corresponding to the emergency identifier are sent in the format selected from the group consisting of text, audio, images, video and a combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the information corresponding to the emergency identifier is selected from the group consisting of severe weather warnings, civil emergency information, evacuation directions, instructions to seek shelter and instructions to receive more information.