System and Methods for Tasking, Collecting, and Dispatching Information Reports

• US 20130159330A1
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Smith
• Original Assignee: Joseph Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A system for tasking, collecting, storing, and dispatching time-sensitive location-based information reports via an electronics communication network, comprising a central relational database management system, multiple computer-implemented services, and applications residing on computer-based mobile communication devices. The system provides: methods to convey the value of specific types of geospatial time-sensitive information from a world-wide population of information consumers to a world wide population of “eye witness” reporters (i.e. suppliers); methods to collect payment from the consumers and, in turn, pay the suppliers of valid information reports that satisfy a consumers'"'"' specific criteria; methods to distribute streams of geospatial-based information reports to geospatial viewing applications; methods to aggregate information demand from multiple information-tasking subscriptions; methods to subscribe and receive alerts with regards to tasking subscriptions; and methods to validate and score information reports.

Claims

1. A system for tasking, collecting, and dispatching “

eye witness”

information reports via an electronic communications network, comprising;

a. a computer-implemented central relational database system capable of storing various types of information reports that are time tagged, geospatially tagged, and characterized with domain unique descriptive metadata that may include text, pictures, video, and audio;

b. a computer-implemented central relational database system capable of storing various information tasking subscriptions comprised of time-based constraints, geospatial constraints and other domain unique criteria constraints;

c. computer-implemented services that receive information tasking subscription criteria from subscribers and store the subscription into a central relational database management system;

d. computer-implemented services for receiving various types of information reports from information reporters who may provide those reports electronically via computer-based communication devices to include, but not limited to, telephones, cellular phones, smartphones, personal computers, Pocket PCs, electronic note pads, electronic tablets, laptops, iPads, iPhones, and Android wireless devices;

e. computer-implemented applications on external computer-based communication devices that provide methods for reporters to document their observations and transmit them to the system over an electronic communications network;

f. computer-implemented applications on external computer-based communication devices that provide methods for subscribers to enroll information tasking subscription criteria and transmit subscriptions to the system over an electronic communications network;

g. computer-implemented services that compare information tasking subscription criteria with incoming information reports, determine whether the report satisfies the subscription criteria, and dispatch the reports over a communications network to devices as designated by the information tasking subscriptions;

h. computer-implemented services that receive and hold (i.e. prevent dispatch) information reports until specified payout minimums are exceeded by aggregate subscription demand;

i. computer-implemented services which distribute geospatial information reports over an electronic communications network to geospatial viewing computer applications residing on a subscriber'"'"'s computer device;

j. computer-implemented services possessing the capability to optionally withhold (i.e. hide) the identity of an information reporter from information tasking subscribers as requested by the reporter providing the information report; and

,

k. computer-implemented services possessing the capability to optionally withhold (i.e. hide) the identity of information tasking subscribers from external users of the system as requested by the information tasking subscriber.

2. The system of claim 1, that further provides computer-implemented services for receiving and displaying aggregate report information in a geospatial and time based context.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein information reports received by the system are scored by a weighted formula.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein reports are delivered to subscribers electronically in various formats including, but not limited to, text messages, emails, computer to computer communications, phone calls, and broadcast satellite subscription service feeds.

5. The system of claim 1, that further provides computer-implemented services for communicating to users over an electronic communications network the demand levels of desired information reports based on aggregate subscription demand using domain, sub-domain, metadata criteria, specified geographic bounds, applicable time range, and economic value.

6. The system of claim 1, that further provides computer-implemented services for reporters to subscribe and receive alerts with regards to information tasking, with capabilities:

a. that communicate individual and aggregate information tasking subscription demand in a geospatial and time based context; and

,

b. that enable a reporter to filter information tasking based on domain and sub-domain metadata criteria, specific geographic bounds, applicable time range, and payout values.

7. The system of claim 1, that further provides computer-implemented services for reporters to specify minimum payouts for an information report that restricts dispatch of the report to other users until information tasking demands equal or exceed the specified minimum payout.

8. The system of claim 1, that further provides computer-implemented services to collect fees for information subscription tasking, attributes the fee to the subscription, aggregates fees based on matching subscription criteria, and electronically pays information reporters for satisfaction of supplied information reports.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein time and geospatial information in an information report is vetted with electronic signature parameters of the communications device, to include, but not limited to, built in GPS parameters, latitude and longitude via embedded location look up services, built in time stamps, phone number, cellular tower metadata, cellular handset identifiers (e.g. IMSI, IMEI, MSN), network MAC address, network IP address, and built in biometric signatures.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the information report may be vetted to include, but not limited to, using image processing of attached pictures, video processing of attached video, and audio processing of audio included with a report.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the information report is submitted to the system in voice, transformed to text, and content extracted for relational storage in the central relational database system.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the information report documents the domain of nature and wildlife (e.g. flora and fauna), to include, but not limited to, bird sightings, fish catches, fish schools, whale observations, unique and/or exotic species sightings, legally targeted species for hunting, animal species for safari sightings, active migrations, unusual animal sightings, unique animal behavior, tracked and/or tagged animals, unusual animal behavior sightings, rabid animal sightings, dangerous animal sightings, predatory animal sightings, missing animal or pet sightings, flora budding and blossoming events.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein an information report documents the domain of human activity, culture, politics, religion, and sports, to include, but not limited to, movie star sightings, sports star sightings, VIP sightings, errant spouse sightings, missing person sightings, lost child sightings, status of ongoing sport'"'"'s game, results of a sport'"'"'s game, restaurant menu offerings, available tables at a restaurant, show times, disease outbreak, and political events.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein an information report documents the domain of criminal behavior, to include, but not limited to, suspicious or criminal behavior, kidnapping, illegal poaching, illegal immigrant sightings, drunk driver sightings, driver illegally texting, car jacking, pirating, airline hijackings, pedophile sightings, graffiti markings, illegal drug use, illegal drug dealing, illegal drug crops, trespassing, illegal deforestation, criminal escapee sightings, deadbeat father and/or mother sightings, stolen artwork, shoplifting, stolen automobile, water usage violations, and suspicious gun discharges.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein an information report documents the domain of natural phenomenon, to include, but not limited to, weather events such as tornados, hurricanes, flash floods, first snow flakes, snow depths, rain gauge readings, earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, water spouts, mud slides, thunderstorms, lightning strikes, forest fires, geyser eruptions, volcanoes, shooting stars, comets, aurora borealis (aka northern lights), aurora australis (aka southern lights), solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, tidal water levels;

stream, lake, and reservoir levels;

ocean surf conditions, water quality, river flows, glacier movement, coral reef health, and lava flows.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein an information report documents the domain of transportation, to include, but not limited to, automobile traffic events, unique automobile sightings, particular airplane/aircraft sighting, train car sighting, ship sighting;

any watercraft sighting to include ships, sailboats, small watercraft, arrival events, departure events, in transit events, baggage events, and delay events.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein an information report documents the domain of commerce, to include, but not limited to, yard and/or garage sales, flea markets, unique items of interest for sale found at public places of commerce, and new product availability.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein an information report documents the domain of industry and agriculture, to include, but not limited to, observed plantings, harvestings, pollutant discharges, deforestation, livestock locations, lost farm animals, and crop status.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein an information report may document national and international security threat domain events, to include, but not limited to, terrorist attacks, IED sightings, military movements, car bombings, naval movements, military transportation sightings, missile launches, genocide, human trafficking, illegal border crossings, civil unrest, protests, strikes, weapons proliferation, and weapons of mass destruction activities.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein an information report document the domain of man made disasters, to include, but not limited to oil spill slick locations, oil spill deposits on beaches and shorelines, nuclear fallout readings, oil spill seepage in a river or stream, pollutant discharges, algae blooms, and unusual gas smells.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein an information report may documents the infrastructure domain, to include, but not limited to location of power outages, road erosion, bridge erosion, roadway pot holes, inclement road conditions, roadway blockages, road closures, checkpoints, speed traps, gas leaks, water pipe bursts, water main breaks, tower (electrical, telecommunications, water) damage, bridge damage, dam or spillway damage, gas and oil pipelines, railway infrastructure, building damages, tower locations, and tower installations, and construction progress.