EVENT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20070106766A1
• Filed: 01/02/2007
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mission Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mission Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Collings, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

In a method of transmitting an event notification, a first data packet that includes a first event code is transmitted to a first individual via a not-automatically receipt confirmed communication. Upon receiving a response communication from the first individual, the first individual is requested to respond with the first event code. If the first individual responds by transmitting the first event code, then the first event is identified from the first event code. Instructions relating to the first event are transmitted to the first individual. The status of notifications is displayed on a map which is displayed on a computer screen.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting an event notification, comprising the steps of:

a. automatically transmitting, from a central event notification center, a notification of an event to at least one individual;

b. receiving from the individual, at the central event notification center, an indication of acceptance of responsibility for the event; and

c. upon completion of the receiving step, updating a central database to indicate that the event has been responded to.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically identifying the individual.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifying step comprises the step of receiving a unique personal identifying code that identifies the individual.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the personal identifying code is transmitted to the central event notification center by the individual keying in the personal identifying code via telephone.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the personal identifying code is transmitted to the central event notification center by the individual activating a personal identification apparatus.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the identifying step comprises the step of receiving a unique notification identifying code that identifies a specific instance of execution of the transmitting step.

7. A method of transmitting an event notification, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving an event indication from a remote station indicating an event condition; and

b. upon expiration of a preselected period, notifying at least one individual of the event.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the preselected period comprises an expected amount of time from completion of the receiving step until a restore signal would be transmitted from the remote station, the restore signal indicating that the event condition had ceased to exist.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the preselected period comprises an expected amount of time from completion of the receiving step until at least one second event indication would be received if a second event, related to the first event, were to occur.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of transmitting a single notification of a group of related events to the individual.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving step and the notifying step each occur at a central event notification center.

12. A method of displaying status of notifications, comprising the steps of:

a. displaying a map on a computer screen;

b. displaying at least one first icon on the map corresponding to a location of a stationary asset that is subject to the occurrence of events;

c. altering the icon to signify the occurrence of a first event if the first event occurs at the stationary asset;

d. receiving an indication of a current location of a mobile asset assigned to respond to the event; and

displaying at least one second icon on the map corresponding to a current location of the mobile asset.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile asset comprises a service vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile asset comprises a personal locating device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the altering step comprises the step of changing the color of the icon.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of displaying at least one second icon further comprises the step of periodically determining an updated current location of the mobile asset and periodically updating second icon on the map to represent the updated current location of the mobile asset.

17. A method of delivering event notification data to a proprietary network used by a local facility, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving, at a central notification processing center of a multi-user notification network, event notification data from a local reporting device;

b. converting the event notification data from a first data format characteristic of the multi-user notification network, into a second data format characteristic of a proprietary network; and

c. transmitting the event notification data, in the second data format, to a local facility.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a notification via a wide area data network.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the event notification data to the local facility via a wide area data network.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the event notification data to the local facility via a telephone network.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the regional multi-user notification network is a national network.

22. A method of monitoring rainfall, comprising the steps of:

a. sensing rainfall with a rainfall sensor at a selected location;

b. periodically transmitting rainfall data indicating an accumulated rainfall amount, determined as a result of the sensing step, to a central processing center using a not-automatically receipt confirmed communication protocol device; and

c. providing the rainfall data to a selected local facility.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of transmitting an immediate notification if a rainfall rate above a predetermined threshold is sensed by the rainfall sensor.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the predetermined threshold is a rate of one tenth of an inch per hour.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the transmitting step further comprises accepting an acknowledgment from an individual who has received an immediate notification.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein a plurality of rainfall sensors are distributed over a predefined geographic region and wherein the accepting step further comprises:

a. accepting a single acknowledgment from an individual who has received one immediate notification corresponding to a first sensor of the plurality of rainfall sensors; and

b. upon sensing the single acknowledgment, suppressing immediate notifications corresponding to each of the plurality of rainfall sensors for a preselected period.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the sensing step is performed using a tipping bucket.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the providing step comprises the step of placing the rainfall data on a site accessible via a global computer network.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing step further comprises the steps of:

a. displaying a map on a computer screen;

b. displaying a rainfall sensor icon on the map so as to correspond to the selected location of the rainfall sensor; and

c. upon receiving an indication that a user desires to view data relating to the rainfall sensor, displaying the rainfall data.

30. A device for accepting a response to a notification from an individual at a selected location, comprising:

a. a personal identification apparatus disposed at the selected location, capable of identifying an individual and capable of verifying that the individual is at the selected location; and

b. a wireless communication apparatus, responsive to the personal identification apparatus, that transmits to a central notification processing center, an indication that the individual is at the selected location.

31. The device of claim 30, further comprising an event notification system that receives an indication of an event from a fixed asset and that is capable of transmitting to the central notification processing center an indication that the event has occurred.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the personal identification apparatus comprises a service key reader.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein the personal identification apparatus comprises a bar code key reader capable of reading a bar-coded tag.

34. The device of claim 30, wherein the personal identification apparatus comprises a magnetic stripe reader.

35. The device of claim 30, wherein the personal identification apparatus comprises a biometric data reader.

36. The device of claim 30, wherein the personal identification apparatus comprises:

a. a global positioning satellite receiver that is capable of locating the individual;

b. a wireless communications circuit, responsive to the global positioning satellite receiver, that is capable of transmitting to the central notification processing center a location of the individual at a predetermined time; and

c. a computer programmed to;

i. determine if the location of the individual is within a preselected distance from the selected location; and

ii. indicate to the central notification processing center that the individual has arrived at the selected location if the individual is within the preselected distance from the selected location.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the global positioning satellite receiver is programmed to enter an inactive mode once the location of the individual is within the preselected distance from the selected location.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein the global positioning satellite receiver is disposed in a vehicle driven by the individual.

39. A method of generating a record of service visits, comprising the steps of:

a. reading personal identification data relative to an individual at a preselected location with a personal identification apparatus disposed at the preselected location;

b. transmitting the personal identification data, a timestamp data packet and a location identification data packet from the personal identification apparatus to a central processing center via a wireless communication channel;

c. storing the personal identification data, the timestamp data packet and the location identification data packet a the central processing center; and

d. generating a report that indicates the when the individual visited the preselected location.