MOBILE INCIDENT REPORTING OF ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME

• US 20130300563A1
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Raymond Glaze
• Original Assignee: Raymond Glaze
• Inventors: Glaze, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US13/890,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention

Abstract

Implementations of this disclosure provide systems and methods for users to create and send incident reports using a portable electronic device such as a mobile device. In some implementations, the incident reports are sent to a plurality of registered mobile devices or other electronic devices. In some implementations, the reports are sent real-time or near real-time. In some implementations, the incident reports involve incidents of retail crime including ORC or any other illegal or suspicious activity. In some implementations, the user is a member of a retail organization and the reports are sent to members of a retail organization.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for distributing incident reports using a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

storing recipient information to forward an incident report;

receiving an incoming incident report created on a portable electronic device; and

transmitting the incoming incident report to one or more recipients based on the stored recipient information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the recipient information includes information sufficient to forward the incident report to the recipient as a text message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the recipient information includes a description of the type of incident reports the recipient desires to receive.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the description includes geographical information.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the description includes organization information.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the description includes merchandise information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the incident report includes the type of incident, the date and time of the incident;

the location of the incident, and information regarding one or more suspects involved in the incident.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the incident report is transmitted such that the incident report is received as a text message on a portable electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the incident report is transmitted such that the incident report is received as an email message.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the incident report is received and transmitted as a voice message.

11. A computer-implemented method for creating incident reports using a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

using a mobile application on a portable device to input incident information regarding an incident; and

transmitting the incident information from the portable electronic device over a network.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the incident information comprises:

the type of incident;

the date and time of the incident;

the location of the incident, and

information regarding one or more suspects involved in the incident;

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the incident information further comprises a photograph relevant to the incident.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the incident information further comprises merchandise involved in the incident:

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the incident comprises an incident of retail crime.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the incident comprises an incident of residential crime.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving the transmitted incident information created on the portable electronic device; and

transmitting the incident information to one or more recipients based on the stored recipient information.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor on a portable electronic device, cause the portable device to:

display a user interface for inputting incident information regarding an incident; and

transmit the incident information from the portable electronic device over a network.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the user interface includes one or more display screens for:

inputting the type of incident;

inputting the date and time of the incident;

inputting the location of the incident, and

inputting information regarding one or more suspects involved in the incident.