MOBILE BASED NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SYSTEM CAPABLE OF GROUP INTERACTIONS, ANONYMOUS MESSAGES AND OBSERVATION REPORTS
First Claim
1. A method of conducting neighborhood watch employing a plurality of mobile devices communicatively coupled to a server, the method comprising:
- forming a primary group at the server, the primary group comprising user contact information for a group of users, wherein each of the group of users is associated with one of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein each of the group of users is typically resident in a neighborhood;
sending one of an anonymous message, a regular message or an observation report by a first one of the users, employing a first mobile device among the plurality of mobile devices, to all the members of the primary group;
receiving the one of an anonymous message, the regular message or the observation report by the members of the primary group employing an associated one of the plurality of mobile devices;
providing instruction in the form of a guided activity, optionally, by a second one of the users from the primary group, wherein the guided activity is communicated to all the members of the primary group;
retrieving the guided activity by the members of the primary group employing the associated one of the plurality of mobile devices; and
coordinating group activities by the members of the primary group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile based neighborhood watch system capable of group interactions, anonymous messages and observation reports. Employing a downloadable mobile client application in their mobile device, members of a local neighborhood watch group can send messages to each other, wherein messages can include voice recorded on their mobile devices and photos taken using their mobile devices. They can also provide comments on messages received, and make observation reports regarding a task they have conducted, something they have noticed, a situation they have witnessed, etc. The membership of the local neighborhood watch group is maintained by a server, and such membership typically includes people staying in a neighborhood, local law enforcement officials, local fire department workers, etc. The server makes it easy to create such groups and manage the membership.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of conducting neighborhood watch employing a plurality of mobile devices communicatively coupled to a server, the method comprising:
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forming a primary group at the server, the primary group comprising user contact information for a group of users, wherein each of the group of users is associated with one of the plurality of mobile devices, wherein each of the group of users is typically resident in a neighborhood; sending one of an anonymous message, a regular message or an observation report by a first one of the users, employing a first mobile device among the plurality of mobile devices, to all the members of the primary group; receiving the one of an anonymous message, the regular message or the observation report by the members of the primary group employing an associated one of the plurality of mobile devices; providing instruction in the form of a guided activity, optionally, by a second one of the users from the primary group, wherein the guided activity is communicated to all the members of the primary group; retrieving the guided activity by the members of the primary group employing the associated one of the plurality of mobile devices; and coordinating group activities by the members of the primary group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for conducting neighborhood watch employing mobile devices, the system comprising:
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a plurality of mobile devices; a server to which the plurality of mobile devices are communicatively coupled; a group manager in the server that facilitates creating a primary group of mobile users at the server, wherein the primary group comprises user contact information for a group of users associated with the plurality of mobile devices, wherein the users are all typically resident in a neighborhood; a mobile client application in each of the plurality of mobile devices for sending one of an anonymous message, a regular message or an observation report to at least another one of the members of the primary group via their associated ones of the plurality of mobile devices; the mobile client application in each of the plurality of mobile devices also capable of receiving and displaying the one of an anonymous message, the regular message or the observation report; the mobile client application in each of the plurality of mobile devices enabling the selection of a guided activity from the server and forwarding it to one or more of the plurality of mobile devices; and the mobile client application in each of the plurality of mobile devices retrieving the guided activity and displaying it based on user selection. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mobile device for conducting neighborhood watch, the mobile device communicatively coupled to a server that facilitates neighborhood watch activities, the mobile device comprising:
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a neighborhood watch mobile client that interacts with the server; the neighborhood watch mobile client facilitates creating and sending messages to the server for communication to at least another mobile device, wherein the messages are anonymous messages or regular messages with sender information, based on a user selection; and the neighborhood watch mobile client presents an observation report form to the user when required to enable the user to create an observation report and send it to the server. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification