User-Centric Event Reporting with Follow-Up Information

• US 20070296574A1
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: User-Centric IP, L.P. (Locator IP LP)
• Original Assignee: User-Centric IP, L.P. (Locator IP LP)
• Inventors: Smith, Michael, O'Neil, Perry
• Granted Patent: US 10,522,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for receiving hazard and event information in a mobile unit and using that information to warn a user of an event or future hazard with reference to the mobile unit'"'"'s location and/or intended direction of travel. A hazard location algorithm compares a forecast location of each mobile unit with a forecast hazard and transmits a warning to each mobile unit that is predicted to encounter the hazard. As the mobile unit moves, its actual position is updated in an event center, and a revised warning is transmitted to the mobile unit as applicable. Warnings include audio warnings for playback and/or visual warnings for display on the mobile device. Users may also wirelessly report events or hazards to a central server in an event center by sending data to the event center via a wireless communications network. Secondary information may be included, based on the selected event type.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) receiving data comprising information corresponding to a hazard as input into a computer program executing on a data processing device, wherein the data includes a type of hazard and a location of the hazard; and

(b) sending from the data processing device to a server the hazard type and a determined location of the hazard.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard type and the determined location of the hazard are sent wirelessly to the server from the data processing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the hazard is based on the location of the data processing device.

4. A method comprising:

receiving, from a remote data processing device, data comprising information corresponding to a hazard including a type of hazard and a location of the hazard, wherein the received data corresponds to user input on the remote data processing device;

identifying one or more mobile alert devices in a geographic region corresponding to the location of the hazard; and

transmitting at least a portion of the hazard information to the identified one or more mobile alert devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the type of hazard corresponds to a lightning strike.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the remote data processing device is a mobile data processing device.

7. A method comprising:

(1) at a location that generates predictions corresponding to hazardous conditions, detecting that a hazardous event is likely to strike a given geographic location;

(2) using a computer to compare the location of the hazardous event to a plurality of geographically dispersed warning devices located in a geographic region and selecting one or more of the geographically dispersed warning devices in response to the comparison; and

(3) remotely activating the selected one or more geographically dispersed warning devices.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

(4) receiving a response from each activated warning device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

(5) in response to receiving the response, updating a computer display.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the hazardous event comprises a lightning strike.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving data comprising information corresponding to a hazard as input, wherein the data includes a type of hazard and a location of the hazard; and

sending, to a server, the hazard type and a determined location of the hazard.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a data processing device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the hazard type and the determined location of the hazard are sent wirelessly to the server.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving, from a remote data processing device, data comprising information corresponding to a hazard including a type of hazard and a location of the hazard, wherein the received data corresponds to user input on the remote data processing device;

identifying one or more mobile alert devices in a geographic region corresponding to the location of the hazard; and

transmitting at least a portion of the hazard information to the identified one or more mobile alert devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the type of hazard corresponds to a lightning strike.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the remote data processing device is a mobile data processing device.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

(1) at a location that generates predictions corresponding to hazardous conditions, detecting that a hazardous event is likely to strike a given geographic location;

(2) comparing the location of the hazardous event to a plurality of geographically dispersed warning devices located in a geographic region and selecting one or more of the geographically dispersed warning devices in response to the comparison; and

(3) remotely activating the selected one or more geographically dispersed warning devices.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

(4) receiving a response from each activated warning device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

(5) in response to receiving the response, updating a computer display.