GEOCODED ALERT SYSTEM

• US 20110068915A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thinair Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Thinair Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: WAKEFIELD, Howard John III
• Application Number:
  US12/565,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/00 Alarm systems in which the alarm condition is signalled from a central station to a plurality of substations

Abstract

A method and memory for a geocoded alert system are disclosed. The method includes the steps of obtaining an alert from an information database, determining an applicable geographic area of the alert, acquiring a geographic location from a communication device, geocoding the geographic location into a geocoded location, storing the geocoded location in a data store, retrieving the geocoded location from the data store when the alert is obtained, ascertaining whether the geocoded location matches the applicable geographic area of the alert, sending a message to the communication device of the user, and confirming a preference of the user to receive the alert.

Claims

1. A method for alerting a user of a geocoded alert system comprising:

obtaining an alert from an information database;

determining an applicable geographic area of said alert;

acquiring a geographic location from a communication device;

geocoding said geographic location into a geocoded location;

ascertaining whether said geocoded location matches said applicable geographic area of said alert; and

sending a message to said communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, said communication device having a global positioning system associated therewith.

3. The method of claim 2, said step of acquiring comprising:

contacting said communication device;

establishing said geographic location of said global positioning system of said communication device; and

returning said geographic location from said communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, said step of ascertaining comprising:

geocoding said applicable geographic area of said alert into a geocoded area; and

determining whether said geocoded location matches said geocoded area.

5. The method of claim 1, said step of sending comprising:

transmitting said message to said communication device when said applicable geographic area of said alert matches said geographic location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

confirming a preference to receive said alert.

7. The method of claim 6, said step of transmitting comprising:

transmitting said message to said communication device of the user when said alert is a preferred alert.

8. The method of claim 1, said step of obtaining comprising:

scanning said information database for said alert; and

retrieving said alert from said information database.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing said geocoded location in a data store; and

retrieving said geocoded location from said data store when said alert is obtained.

10. The method of claim 1, said step of obtaining comprising:

receiving said alert from said information database.

11. A method for alerting a user of a geocoded alert system comprising:

obtaining an alert from an information database;

determining an applicable geographic area of said alert;

entering a geographic location by the user;

geocoding said geographic location into a geocoded location;

ascertaining whether said geocoded location matches said applicable geographic area of said alert; and

sending a message to a communication device of the user.

12. The method of claim 11, said step of ascertaining comprising:

geocoding said applicable geographic area of said alert into a geocoded area; and

determining whether said geocoded location matches said geocoded area.

13. The method of claim 12, said step of sending comprising:

transmitting said message to said communication device of the user when said geocoded area matches said geocoded location.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

confirming a preference to receive said alert.

15. The method of claim 14, said step of sending further comprising:

transmitting said message to said communication device of the user when said alert is a preferred alert.

16. A memory for a geocoded alert system comprising:

an alert unit to obtain an alert, said alert having an applicable geographic area;

a locating unit to obtain a geographic location of a communication device;

a geocoding unit to geocode said geographic location into a geocoded location;

an analyzing unit to determine whether said geocoded location matches said applicable geographic area; and

a sending unit to send a message to said communication device when said geocoded location matches said applicable geographic area.

17. The memory of claim 16, further comprising:

a preference unit to determine whether said alert is a preferred alert, said sending unit to send said message only if said alert is said preferred alert.

18. The memory of claim 16, said geocoding unit to geocode said applicable geographic area into a geocoded area.

19. The memory of claim 18, said analyzing unit to determine whether said geocoded location matches said geocoded area.

20. The memory of claim 19, said sending unit to send said message to said communication device when said geocoded location matches said geocoded area.