Networked Computer Alert System

• US 20090219146A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ruvato, LLC
• Original Assignee: John Vandenburgh, Niki Vandenburgh
• Inventors: Vandenburgh, Niki, Vandenburgh, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,230,011 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/286.20
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00

Abstract

An alert system for users of networked computers is described. The alert system includes local software installed on the user'"'"'s personal computing device, such as personal computers, cell phones and personal data assistants as well as server software. The system allows for both anonymous and non-anonymous rapid communication from the user upon a triggering event of harassment or other actions while accessing the Internet using the personal computing device. The system includes flexible and customizable communication to a variety of pre-selected recipients by a variety of communication means.

Claims

1. A computer alert system comprising:

a) local alert software installed on a user'"'"'s personal computing device,

b) communication software installed on a dedicated alert server,

c) where the local software when activated causes the communication software to send a predefined alert message to a predefined list of recipients.

2. The alert system of claim 1 where the activation is done through an onscreen icon.

3. The alert system of claim 1 where the message is sent anonymously.

4. The alert system of claim 1 where the predefined alert message is a unique message for at least one of the recipients.

5. The alert system of claim 1 further comprising a second message sent after the first.

7. The alert system of claim 1 further comprising an evidence gathering step.

8. The alert system of claim 7 where the evidence gathering step includes a screen image capture.

9. The alert system of claim 1 where the communication software sends an e-mail.

10. The alert system of claim 1 where the communication software sends an instant message.

11. The alert system of claim 1 further comprising a confirmation step before sending the alert message.

6. The alert system of claim 6 where the second message is sent to at least one recipient non-anonymously.

12. A tangible storage medium encoded to contain software for a computer alert system, said system comprising:

a) local software which may be installed on a user'"'"'s personal computing device,

b) communication software which may be installed on a dedicated communication server,

c) where the local software when activated causes the communication software to send a predefined alert message to a predefined list of recipients.

13. The tangible storage medium of claim 12 where the activation is done through an onscreen icon.

14. The tangible storage medium of claim 12 where the predefined alert message is a unique message for at least one of the recipients.

15. The tangible storage medium of claim 12 further encoded with software for an evidence gathering step.

16. The tangible storage medium of claim 15 where the evidence gathering step includes a screen image capture.

17. The tangible storage medium of claim 12 where the communication software sends an e-mail.

18. The tangible storage medium of claim 12 where the communication software sends an instant message.

19. A computer alert system comprising:

a) local alert software installed on a user'"'"'s personal computing device,

b) communication software installed on a dedicated alert server,

c) where the local software when activated causes the communication software to send a predefined alert message to a predefined list of recipients.

d) where the activation is done through an onscreen icon.

20. The alert system of claim 19 where the predefined alert message is a unique message for at least one of the recipients.

21. The alert system of claim 19 further comprising an evidence gathering step.

22. The alert system of claim 21 where the evidence gathering step includes a screen image capture.

23. The alert system of claim 19 where the communication software sends an e-mail.

24. The alert system of claim 19 where the communication software sends an instant message.

25. The alert system of claim 19 where the message is sent anonymously.