Real-time multi-component web based travel safety system and method

• US 20070273499A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Services, Inc. (Garmin Limited)
• Original Assignee: John Chlubek, Michael Chlubek, Peter Chlubek, Robert B. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Robert, Chlubek, Michael, Chlubek, Peter, Chlubek, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,223,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/001 Signalling to an emergency team, e.g. firemen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A real-time system and method that monitors and maintains greatly enhanced safety and security for travelers and corporations by creating a multi layered and integrated system of multi faceted intelligence collection and dissemination, global electronic monitoring, locating and tracking technology, telecommunications, multi channel electronic distribution of relevance-parameterized advice and information to travelers with full acknowledgements and audit trail of critical alert messages both pushed to the traveler or traveler-requested, individual and corporate global security services, emergency response, search and rescue operations initiated either/both by monitor processes or by the traveler and a wide range of travel safety and security related ancillary services, all coordinated under the management of a central international command and control center with regional sub control centers throughout the world. All these component parts are brought together by the method and process to work synergistically in a way not previously described or existing.

Claims

1. A real-time multi component travel safety system that monitors and maintains the safety and security of a traveler, as an individual, part of a group and in a broader corporate context, while traveling, operating and working internationally and domestically, the system comprising:

a multifunction Processing Module Array (PMA) comprising a plurality of interacting interconnected modules, the modules processing Service Requests and delivering appropriate outputs both within the system and to the external service-requesting entity;

a multifunction, programmable and customizable Data Input Bus comprising one of the modules of the Processing Module Array, the Data Input Bus receiving location data, global incident data including disease hazard, natural disaster hazard, terrorist hazard and other hazards, intelligence assessments and other data which are used as parameters controlling the system processes within the Processing Module Array;

a multifunction, programmable and customizable External Service Request Bus (XSRB) comprising another of the modules of the Processing Module Array, the External Service Request Bus accepting service requests, through a GEOS Customer Interface (GCI), from a traveler and from any authorized third party, both in real-time, and passing the service requests on to the Processing Module Array (PMA), the External Service Request Bus being bi-directional and, for some Service Requests, returning appropriate PMA outputs back, via the bi-directional GCI, to the traveler or an authorized third party;

a multifunction and multimedia Communications Bus (COM) comprising another module of the Processing Module Array, the Communications Bus managing communications of the system and its component parts with the external environment;

a multifunction Operation Request Bus (ORB) comprising another module of the Processing Module Array, the Operation Request Bus grouping warning outputs from the Processing Module Array and forwarding the warning outputs to a GEOS GEM Control Center;

a multifunction, programmable and customizable Global Emergency Monitoring (GEM) Center comprising another module of the Processing Module Array, the Global Emergency Monitoring Center responding to and processing Operation Requests from the PMA via the Operation Requests Bus (ORB), interacting with the PMA via the bi-directional SSR bus, responding to, coordinating and processing Traveler Assistance Requests from a GEOS Location Terminal (GLT) or GEOS Communications Terminal (GCT), the GEM initiating further appropriate GEM operations via a GEM Operations Bus (GEMOP bus), which may be supported by further SSRs;

a multifunction, programmable and customizable GEOS Customer Interface (GCI) comprising a bi-directional graphical interface, also accessible via the internet World Wide Web, which is the interface between the user and the System Processes (PROs);

a GEOS Communications Terminal (GCT) comprising an approved technological device enabling communications between the terminal and the other components of the GEOS System, the GCT-establishing communications with the GEM and responding to CBS communications, both in real-time;

a GEOS Location Terminal (GLT) comprising an approved technological device transmitting it'"'"'s location to the GEM or to the FFM, the GLT configured for simultaneously being a GCT;

to create a real-time multi component travel safety system that monitors and maintains the safety and security of a traveler, as an individual, part of a group and in a broader corporate context, while traveling, operating and working internationally and domestically.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein processes (PROs) within the PMA interact with the GEM and the external environment via a series of buses including Service Request Buses, Data Input Bus, Operation Request Bus, Communications Bus, the buses comprising logical and physical groupings of signaling paths which provide both clarity and efficiency to the functioning of the system, the utilization of buses in this way enabling the existence and development of multiple logic structures within the same structural connectivity to give rise to possible multiple and different embodiments of the same system and to permit further development of individual system processes and their enhancement and changes to system logic within the structure of the system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the system is programmed for being adapted, extended or reduced in scope, without its uniqueness and originality of concept and methodology being fundamentally changed so that the system is structured for learning and thus achieving a modification of process logic within the same structure.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is programmed to communicate with satellite, terrestrial cellular and other techniques and methodologies to acquire Global Incident Data and traveler location data, both in real-time, and to respond to real-time service requests from authorized third parties, from the traveler and from internal monitoring processes in a way where the incoming data is used to modify the response to make it relevant and appropriate to the location of the traveler and to the travelers'"'"' situation so that the traveler plans appropriately by providing appropriate pre-travel advice related specifically to any intended itinerary, the itinerary becoming a part of the parameter data, which is integrated with the monitoring function including, the system recognizing a developing health, security and other risks in real-time and automatically establishing two-way electronic communication via a broad communications channel incorporating fully redundant mobile text, email, voice and other messaging techniques to transmit and receive acknowledgement for appropriate pre-emptive advice direct to the traveler, as well as permit the traveler to signal an encountered risk, hazard or other event upon which the system may initiate appropriate remedial steps ranging from appropriate advice to commencement of a search and rescue operation in the field.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is programmed to receive information about hazardous locations and establish geographical bounds surrounding the hazardous locations and notify a traveler upon entering the geographical bounds of one of the hazardous locations.

6. A real-time multi component travel safety method comprising monitoring and maintaining the safety and security of a traveler, as an individual, part of a group and in a broader corporate context, while traveling, operating and working internationally and domestically utilizing an interactive system comprising:

a multifunction Processing Module Array (PMA) comprising a plurality of interacting interconnected modules, the modules processing Service Requests and delivering appropriate outputs both within the system and to the external service-requesting entity;

a multifunction, programmable and customizable Data Input Bus comprising one of the modules of the Processing Module Array, the Data Input Bus receiving location data, global incident data including disease hazard, natural disaster hazard, terrorist hazard and other hazards, intelligence assessments and other data which are used as parameters controlling the system processes within the Processing Module Array;

a multifunction, programmable and customizable External Service Request Bus (XSRB) comprising another of the modules of the Processing Module Array, the External Service Request Bus accepting service requests, through a GEOS Customer Interface (GCI), from a traveler and from any authorized third party, both in real-time, and passing the service requests on to the Processing Module Array (PMA), the External Service Request Bus being bi-directional and, for some Service Requests, returning appropriate PMA outputs back, via the bi-directional GCI, to the traveler or an authorized third party;

a multifunction and multimedia Communications Bus (COM) comprising another module of the Processing Module Array, the Communications Bus managing communications of the system and its component parts with the external environment;

a multifunction Operation Request Bus (ORB) comprising another module of the Processing Module Array, the Operation Request Bus grouping warning outputs from the Processing Module Array and forwarding the warning outputs to a GEOS GEM Control Center;

a multifunction, programmable and customizable Global Emergency Monitoring (GEM) Center comprising another module of the Processing Module Array, the Global Emergency Monitoring Center responding to and processing Operation Requests from the PMA via the Operation Requests Bus (ORB), interacting with the PMA via the bi-directional SSR bus, responding to, coordinating and processing Traveler Assistance Requests from a GEOS Location Terminal (GLT) or GEOS Communications Terminal (GCT), the GEM initiating further appropriate GEM operations via a GEM Operations Bus (GEMOP bus), which may be supported by further SSRs;

a multifunction, programmable and customizable GEOS Customer Interface (GCI) comprising a bi-directional graphical interface, also accessible via the internet World Wide Web, which is the interface between the user and the System Processes (PROs);

a GEOS Communications Terminal (GCT) comprising an approved technological device enabling communications between the terminal and the other components of the GEOS System, the GCT establishing communications with the GEM and responding to CBS communications, both in real-time;

a GEOS Location Terminal (GLT) comprising an approved technological device transmitting it'"'"'s location to the GEM or to the FFM, the GLT configured for simultaneously being a GCT;

to create a real-time multi component system that monitors and maintains the safety and security of a traveler, as an individual, part of a group and in a broader corporate context, while traveling, operating and working internationally and domestically.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein processes (PROs) within the PMA interact with the GEM and the external environment via a series of buses including Service Request Buses, Data Input Bus, Operation Request Bus, Communications Bus, the buses comprising logical and physical groupings of signaling paths which provide both clarity and efficiency to the functioning of the system, the utilization of buses in this way enabling the existence and development of multiple logic structures within the same structural connectivity to give rise to possible multiple and different embodiments of the same system and to permit further development of individual system processes and their enhancement and changes to system logic within the structure of the system.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising programming the system for being adapted, extended or reduced in scope, without its uniqueness and originality of concept and methodology being fundamentally, changed so that the system is structured for learning and thus achieving a modification of process logic within the same structure.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising programming the system to communicate with satellite, terrestrial cellular and other techniques and methodologies to acquire Global Incident Data and traveler location data, both in real-time, and to respond to real-time service requests from authorized third parties, from the traveler and from internal monitoring processes in a way where the incoming data is used to modify the response to make it relevant and appropriate to the location of the traveler and to the travelers'"'"' situation so that the traveler plans appropriately by providing appropriate pre-travel advice related specifically to any intended itinerary, the itinerary becoming a part of the parameter data, which is integrated with the monitoring function including, the system recognizing a developing health, security and other risks in real-time and automatically establishing two-way electronic communication via a broad communications channel incorporating fully redundant mobile text, email, voice and other messaging techniques to transmit and receive acknowledgement for appropriate pre-emptive advice direct to the traveler, as well as permit the traveler to signal an encountered risk, hazard or other event upon which the system may initiate appropriate remedial steps ranging from appropriate advice to commencement of a search and rescue operation in the field.

10. A travel safety system comprising a real-time multi component integrated system comprising a multifunction Processing Module Array (PMA) comprising a plurality of interacting interconnected modules programmed to receive information about hazardous locations and establish geographical bounds surrounding the hazardous locations and notify a traveler upon entering the geographical bounds of one of the hazardous locations.

11. A travel safety method comprising programming a real-time multi component integrated system comprising a multifunction Processing Module Array (PMA) comprising a plurality of interacting interconnected modules to receive information about hazardous locations and establish geographical bounds surrounding the hazardous locations and notify a traveler upon entering the geographical bounds of one of the hazardous locations.