Crisis communication system and method utilizing group-based message distribution
First Claim
1. A crisis communication system including at least one crisis communication point (CCP) having a system box connected to multiple telephone lines, comprising:
- subscriber personal boxes, each associated with a subscriber, and each accessible upon entry of one of a plurality of phone numbers associated with a respective personal box, and potentially associated with other personal boxes; and
additional personal boxes, each associated with a particular plurality of other personal boxes, each personal box being accessible upon entry of a unique combination of numbers determined as a phone number augmented by a personal box identifier,wherein respective said personal boxes are associated with one or more contact lists such that a message recorded in one of said personal boxes associated with said one or more contact lists is automatically distributed to at least one other of the personal boxes associated with one or more of said contact lists.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of crisis communication includes a plurality of crisis communication points (CCPs) located in geographic dispersed areas unlikely to all be affected by a single disaster, and which are arranged to store messages left by individuals affected by a crisis for retrieval at any time by interested parties who call the CCP. Each individual associated with a subscriber, including family members, friends, and associates, has an individual box accessible through a telephone number coupled with a personal identifier and an optional individual or group password, and may (a) record a message, the message being distributed to all individual boxes in a group, and/or (b) play back messages from other box holders. Any messages recorded in one of the call boxes may be automatically distributed to all other voice mail boxes in the group of personal boxes associated with a contact list or, optionally, limited to selected personal boxes. Notification of next-of-kin may be facilitated by providing subscribers with a card instructing officials/medical personnel to contact a CCP and leave a message for automatic distribution to next-of-kin personal boxes.
22 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A crisis communication system including at least one crisis communication point (CCP) having a system box connected to multiple telephone lines, comprising:
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subscriber personal boxes, each associated with a subscriber, and each accessible upon entry of one of a plurality of phone numbers associated with a respective personal box, and potentially associated with other personal boxes; and additional personal boxes, each associated with a particular plurality of other personal boxes, each personal box being accessible upon entry of a unique combination of numbers determined as a phone number augmented by a personal box identifier, wherein respective said personal boxes are associated with one or more contact lists such that a message recorded in one of said personal boxes associated with said one or more contact lists is automatically distributed to at least one other of the personal boxes associated with one or more of said contact lists. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of facilitating communications during a crisis, comprising the steps of:
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operating a crisis communication point (CCP) including a system box; operating a plurality of subscriber personal boxes, each associated with a single subscriber, and each accessible upon entry of one of a plurality of telephone numbers associated with other personal boxes; operating a plurality of additional personal boxes, each additional personal box associated with a particular plurality of other said personal boxes on a contact list, each personal box being accessible upon entry of a unique combination of numbers determined as a telephone number augmented by a personal box identifier; and automatically distributing a message recorded in one of said plurality of personal boxes associated with one or more contact lists. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A telephone message access system, comprising:
subscriber personal boxes, each associated with a subscriber and a plurality of phone numbers, and each accessible upon entry of any one of the plurality of phone numbers associated with a respective personal box. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A telephone message access system, comprising:
a plurality of personal voice mail boxes associated with at least one common phone number, each personal voice mail box being accessible upon entry of a unique combination of numbers including said common phone number augmented by a personal box identifier. - View Dependent Claims (29)
Specification