Systems and Methods for Crisis Management and Situational Awareness

• US 20140189887A1
• Filed: 12/31/2012
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smartbridge LLC
• Original Assignee: Smartbridge LLC
• Inventors: Raju, Sri Penmetsha
• Granted Patent: US 9,003,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing events, including either a server or a client device, are provided. Assets and events are defined. Information is received by a client device via an input device, associated with an asset and an event, and transmitted to the server. Information is also received by a client device from another client device. Client devices also access information from the server and display the accessed information and information received from other client devices. The server receives information from client devices and stores the information in association with an asset and an event to which the information pertains. The server also receives and stores information from client devices that is designated for transmission to other client devices. The server also permits client devices to access its stored information. The server stores multiple pieces of information pertaining to the same asset or event in association with each other.

Claims

1. A system for managing events comprising:

a server comprising;

a processor configured for executing software;

a network interface configured for communicating with a plurality of client devices via a communication network;

a memory configured for storing software and information; and

software, wherein the software, when executed by the processor, is operable to perform operations comprising;

defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;

receiving, from a first one of the client devices via the communication network, first information and, in association with the first information, first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;

storing the received first information and, in association therewith, the received first data in the memory; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received first information via the communication network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operation of defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset, comprises:

defining one or more events; and

defining one or more assets.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from a second one of the client devices via the communication network, second information and, in association with the second information, second data indicating a second item to which the second information pertains;

storing the received second information and, in association therewith, the received second data in the memory; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received second information via the communication network,

wherein, if the first and second items are the same, the first and second information are stored in association with each other, and

wherein the first and second client devices may be the same or different devices.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from a third one of the client devices via the communication network, third information and, in association with the third information, transmission data indicating selected ones of the client devices to which the third information is designated for transmission;

storing the received third information in the memory; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received third information via the communication network,

wherein the first and third client devices may be the same or different devices.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the third client device via the communication network, in association with the third information, third data indicating a third item to which the third information pertains; and

storing, in association with the third information, the received third data in the memory,

wherein, if the first and third items are the same, the first and third information are stored in association with each other.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first information comprises image, video or audio information.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting the third information to the selected ones of the client devices via email or text message.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data indicating a time at which the first information was inputted into the first client device;

storing in the memory, in association with the received first information, the data indicating the time at which the first information was inputted; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the data indicating the time at which the first information was inputted.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data indicating a first time at which the first information was inputted into the first client device;

storing in the memory, in association with the received first information, the data indicating the first time at which the first information was inputted;

receiving, from a fourth one of the client devices via the communication network, fourth information, data indicating a second time at which the fourth information was inputted into the fourth client device, and, in association with the fourth information, fourth data indicating that the fourth information pertains to the first item, the fourth time being later than the first time and the fourth information comprising an update of the first information;

identifying the received fourth information as an update of the first information;

storing in the memory the received fourth information as an update of the first information and, in association with the received fourth information, the data indicating the second time at which the fourth information was inputted; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received first information, the received fourth information identified as an update of the first information, the data indicating the first time at which the first information was inputted, and the data indicating the second time at which the fourth information was inputted,

wherein the first and fourth client devices may be the same device or different devices.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise sending a notification to ones of the client devices after identification of the received fourth information as an update of the first information.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

for each defined item, defining one or more groups of authorized users, each group of authorized users comprising one or more authorized user;

for each defined group of authorized users, authorizing the users thereof to perform one or more of the following;

a) inputting, to one or more of the client devices, for uploading to the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

b) accessing, via one or more of the client devices from the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

performing one or both of the following;

prior to the inputting of the information or prior to the uploading of the information, authenticating a user; and

prior to the accessing of the information, authenticating a user.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

defining a status of the first item based on the first information;

defining a group of authorized users comprising one or more users authorized to lock or unlock the status of the first item;

in response to a request to lock the status made by a user authorized to lock the status, preventing the status from being changed; and

in response to a request to unlock the status made by a user authorized to unlock the status, permitting the status to be changed,

wherein, changing the status comprises changing the status based on additional information that pertains to the first item and that has been received from one of the client devices via the communication network.

13. The system according to claim 4, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the third client device via the communication network, in association with the third information, third data indicating a third item to which the third information pertains; and

storing, in association with the third information, the received third data in the memory;

wherein the permitting the accessing of the first and third information comprises permitting selective accessing of the first and third information, based upon characteristics of the first and third items.

14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising the plurality of client devices,

wherein the server is located geographically remotely from one or more of the client devices.

25. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

for each defined item, defining one or more groups of authorized users, each group of authorized users comprising one or more authorized user;

for each defined group of authorized users, authorizing the users thereof to perform one or more of the following;

a) inputting, to one or more of the client devices, for uploading to the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

b) accessing, via one or more of the client devices from the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

performing one or both of the following;

prior to the inputting of the information or prior to the uploading of the information, authenticating a user; and

prior to the accessing of the information, authenticating a user.

15. A method for managing events, performed by software operating on a server, the server comprising a processor configured for executing software, a network interface configured for communicating with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, a memory configured for storing software and information, and software, the method comprising:

defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;

receiving, from a first one of the client devices via the communication network, first information and, in association with the first information, first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;

storing the received first information and, in association therewith, the received first data in the memory; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received first information via the communication network.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset, comprises:

defining one or more events; and

defining one or more assets.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, from a second one of the client devices via the communication network, second information and, in association with the second information, second data indicating a second item to which the second information pertains;

storing the received second information and, in association therewith, the received second data in the memory; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received second information via the communication network,

wherein, if the first and second items are the same, the first and second information are stored in association with each other, and

wherein the first and second client devices may be the same or different devices.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, from a third one of the client devices via the communication network, third information and, in association with the third information, transmission data indicating selected ones of the client devices to which the third information is designated for transmission;

storing the received third information in the memory; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received third information via the communication network,

wherein the first and third client devices may be the same or different devices.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving, from the third client device via the communication network, in association with the third information, third data indicating a third item to which the third information pertains; and

storing, in association with the third information, the received third data in the memory,

wherein, if the first and third items are the same, the first and third information are stored in association with each other.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first information comprises image, video or audio information.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising transmitting the third information to the selected ones of the client devices via email or text message.

22. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving data indicating a time at which the first information was inputted into the first client device;

storing in the memory, in association with the received first information, the data indicating the time at which the first information was inputted; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the data indicating the time at which the first information was inputted.

23. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

receiving data indicating a first time at which the first information was inputted into the first client device;

storing in the memory, in association with the received first information, the data indicating the first time at which the first information was inputted;

receiving, from a fourth one of the client devices via the communication network, fourth information, data indicating a second time at which the fourth information was inputted into the fourth client device, and, in association with the fourth information, fourth data indicating that the fourth information pertains to the first item, the second time being later than the first time and the fourth information comprising an update of the first information;

identifying the received fourth information as an update of the first information;

storing in the memory the received fourth information as an update of the first information and, in association with the received fourth information, the data indicating the second time at which the fourth information was inputted; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received first information, the received fourth information identified as an update of the first information, the data indicating the first time at which the first information was inputted, and the data indicating the second time at which the fourth information was inputted,

wherein the first and fourth client devices may be the same device or different devices.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising:

sending a notification to ones of the client devices after identification of the received fourth information as an update of the first information.

26. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

defining a status of the first item based on the first information;

defining a group of authorized users comprising one or more users authorized to lock or unlock the status of the first item;

in response to a request to lock the status made by a user authorized to lock the status, preventing the status from being changed; and

in response to a request to unlock the status made by a user authorized to unlock the status, permitting the status to be changed,

wherein, changing the status comprises changing the status based on additional information that pertains to the first item and that has been received from one of the client devices via the communication network.

27. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving, from the third client device via the communication network, in association with the third information, third data indicating a third item to which the third information pertains; and

storing, in association with the third information, the received third data in the memory;

wherein the permitting the accessing of the first and third information comprises permitting selective accessing of the first and third information, based upon characteristics of the first and third items.

28. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine-accessible medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor-based system comprising a processor configured for executing instructions, a network interface configured for communicating with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, and a memory configured for storing instructions and information, enable the processor-based system to perform operations comprising:

defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;

receiving, from a first one of the client devices via the communication network, first information and, in association with the first information, first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;

storing the received first information and, in association therewith, the received first data in the memory; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received first information via the communication network.

29. The article of manufacture according to claim 28, wherein the operation of defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset, comprises:

defining one or more events; and

defining one or more assets.

30. The article of manufacture according to claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from a second one of the client devices via the communication network, second information and, in association with the second information, second data indicating a second item to which the second information pertains;

storing the received second information and, in association therewith, the received second data in the memory; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received second information via the communication network,

wherein, if the first and second items are the same, the first and second information are stored in association with each other, and

wherein the first and second client devices may be the same or different devices.

31. The article of manufacture according to claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from a third one of the client devices via the communication network, third information and, in association with the third information, transmission data indicating selected ones of the client devices to which the third information is designated for transmission;

storing the received third information in the memory; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received third information via the communication network,

wherein the first and third client devices may be the same or different devices.

32. The article of manufacture according to claim 31, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the third client device via the communication network, in association with the third information, third data indicating a third item to which the third information pertains; and

storing, in association with the third information, the received third data in the memory,

wherein, if the first and third items are the same, the first and third information are stored in association with each other.

33. The article of manufacture according to claim 28, wherein the first information comprises image, video or audio information.

34. The article of manufacture according to claim 31, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting the third information to the selected ones of the client devices via email or text message.

35. The article of manufacture according to claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data indicating a time at which the first information was inputted into the first client device;

storing in the memory, in association with the received first information, the data indicating the time at which the first information was inputted; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the data indicating the time at which the first information was inputted.

36. The article of manufacture according to claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data indicating a first time at which the first information was inputted into the first client device;

storing in the memory, in association with the received first information, the data indicating the first time at which the first information was inputted;

receiving, from a fourth one of the client devices via the communication network, fourth information, data indicating a second time at which the fourth information was inputted into the fourth client device, and, in association with the fourth information, fourth data indicating that the fourth information pertains to the first item, the second time being later than the first time and the fourth information comprising an update of the first information;

identifying the received fourth information as an update of the first information;

storing in the memory the received fourth information as an update of the first information and, in association with the received fourth information, the data indicating the second time at which the fourth information was inputted; and

permitting ones of the client devices to access the received first information, the received fourth information identified as an update of the first information, the data indicating the first time at which the first information was inputted, and the data indicating the second time at which the fourth information was inputted,

wherein the first and fourth client devices may be the same device or different devices.

37. The article of manufacture according to claim 36, wherein the operations further comprise sending a notification to ones of the client devices after identification of the received fourth information as an update of the first information.

38. The article of manufacture according to claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

for each defined item, defining one or more groups of authorized users, each group of authorized users comprising one or more authorized user;

for each defined group of authorized users, authorizing the users thereof to perform one or more of the following;

a) inputting, to one or more of the client devices, for uploading to the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

b) accessing, via one or more of the client devices from the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

performing one or both of the following;

prior to the inputting of the information or prior to the uploading of the information, authenticating a user; and

prior to the accessing of the information, authenticating a user.

39. The article of manufacture according to claim 28, wherein the operations further comprise:

defining a status of the first item based on the first information;

define a group of authorized users comprising one or more users authorized to lock or unlock the status of the first item;

in response to a request to lock the status made by a user authorized to lock the status, prevent the status from being changed; and

in response to a request to unlock the status made by a user authorized to unlock the status, permit the status to be changed,

wherein, changing the status comprises changing the status based on additional information that pertains to the first item and that has been received from one of the client devices via the communication network.

40. The article of manufacture according to claim 31, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the third client device via the communication network, in association with the third information, third data indicating a third item to which the third information pertains; and

storing, in association with the third information, the received third data in the memory;

wherein the permitting the accessing of the first and third information comprises permitting selective accessing of the first and third information, based upon characteristics of the first and third items.

41. A client device for managing events, comprising:

a processor configured for executing software;

a network interface configured for permitting the client device to communicate with a server and with other client devices via a communication network;

an input device configured for permitting information to be inputted into the client device;

a memory configured for storing software, information inputted via the input device, and information received via the communication network; and

software executable by the processor, wherein the software when executed is operable to perform operations comprising;

defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;

receiving first information inputted via the input device;

associating first data with the first information, the first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;

transmitting, to the server via the communication network, the first information and, in association with the first information, the first data; and

accessing, from the server via the communication network, second information and, in association therewith, second data indicating a second item to which the second information pertains.

42. The device according to claim 41, wherein the operation of defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset, comprises:

defining one or more assets; and

defining one or more events.

43. The device according to claim 41, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving third information inputted via the input device;

transmitting the third information to the server and to one or more of the client devices via the communication network; and

receiving fourth information from another client device via the communication network.

44. The device according to claim 41, further comprising:

a display device configured to display information on the client device,

wherein the operations further comprise;

displaying the accessed second information on the display device.

45. The device according to claim 43, wherein the transmission of the third information to one or more of the client devices and the reception of the fourth information from another client device occurs via the server.

46. The device according to claim 43, wherein the operations further comprise:

associating data with the third information, the data indicating item to which the third information pertains; and

transmitting the data to the server via the communication network, in association with the third information.

47. The device according to claim 41, wherein the first information and/or the second information comprises image, video or audio information.

48. The device according to claim 43, wherein the transmission of the third information to the one or more client devices and the reception of the fourth information from another client device is via email or text message.

49. The device according to claim 41, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting to the server, in association with the first information, data indicating a time at which the first information was inputted.

50. The device according to claim 41, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting to the server, in association with the first information, data indicating a first time at which the first information was inputted;

receiving third information inputted via the input device, the third information comprising an update of the first information;

associating third data with the third information, the third data indicating that the third information pertains to the first item; and

transmitting to the server, the third information and, in association with the third information, the third data and data indicating a second time at which the third information was inputted, the second time being later than the first time.

51. The device according to claim 41, wherein the operations further comprise:

for each defined item, defining one or more groups of authorized users, each group of authorized users comprising one or more authorized user;

for each defined group of authorized users, authorizing the users thereof to perform one or more of the following;

a) inputting, to one or more of the client devices, for uploading to the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

b) accessing, via one or more of the client devices from the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

performing one or both of the following;

prior to the inputting of the information or prior to the uploading of the information, authenticating a user; and

prior to the accessing of the information, authenticating a user.

52. The device according to claim 41, wherein the operations further comprise:

defining a status of the first item based on the first information;

defining a group of authorized users comprising one or more users authorized to lock or unlock the status of the first item;

in response to a request to lock the status made by a user authorized to lock the status, preventing the status from being changed; and

in response to a request to unlock the status made by a user authorized to unlock the status, permitting the status to be changed,

wherein changing the status comprises changing the status based on additional information that pertains to the first item.

53. The device according to claim 41, wherein the operations further comprise:

selectively accessing information from the server based upon characteristics of defined items to which the information pertains.

54. A method for managing events, performed by a software application operating on a client device, the client device comprising a processor configured for executing the software application, a network interface configured for permitting the client device to communicate with a server and with other client devices via a communication network, an input device configured for permitting information to be inputted into the client device, a memory configured for storing the software application, information inputted via the input device, and information received via the communication network, and the software application, the method comprising:

defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;

receiving first information inputted via the input device;

associating first data with the first information, the first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;

transmitting, to the server via the communication network, the first information and, in association with the first information, the first data; and

accessing, from the server via the communication network, second information and, in association therewith, second data indicating a second event and a second asset to which the second information pertains.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein the step of defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset, comprises:

defining one or more assets; and

defining one or more events.

56. The method according to claim 54, further comprising:

receiving third information inputted via the input device;

transmitting the third information to the server and to one or more of the client devices via the communication network; and

receiving fourth information from another client device via the communication network.

57. The method according to claim 54,

wherein the client device further comprises a display device configured to display information on the client device, and

wherein the method further comprises displaying the accessed second information on the display device.

58. The method according to claim 56, wherein the transmission of the third information to one or more of the client devices and the reception of the fourth information from another client device occurs via the server.

59. The method according to claim 56, further comprising:

associating data with the third information, the data indicating an item to which the third information pertains; and

transmitting the data to the server via the communication network, in association with the third information.

60. The method according to claim 54, wherein the first and/or the second information comprises image, video or audio information.

61. The method according to claim 56, wherein the transmission of the third information to the one or more client devices and the reception of the fourth information from another client device is via email or text message.

62. The method according to claim 54, further comprising:

transmitting to the server, in association with the first information, data indicating a time at which the first information was inputted.

63. The method according to claim 54, further comprising:

transmitting to the server, in association with the first information, data indicating a first time at which the first information was inputted;

receiving third information inputted via the input device, the third information comprising an update of the first information;

associating third data with the third information, the third data indicating that the third information pertains to the first item; and

transmitting to the server, the third information and, in association with the third information, the third data and data indicating a second time at which the third information was inputted, the second time being later than the first time.

64. The method according to claim 54, further comprising:

for each defined item, defining one or more groups of authorized users, each group of authorized users comprising one or more authorized user;

for each defined group of authorized users, authorizing the users thereof to perform one or more of the following;

a) inputting, to one or more of the client devices, for uploading to the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

b) accessing, via one or more of the client devices from the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

performing one or both of the following;

prior to the inputting of the information or prior to the uploading of the information, authenticating a user; and

prior to the accessing of the information, authenticating a user.

65. The method according to claim 54, further comprising:

defining a status of the first item based on the first information;

defining a group of authorized users comprising one or more users authorized to lock or unlock the status of the first item;

in response to a request to lock the status made by a user authorized to lock the status, preventing the status from being changed; and

in response to a request to unlock the status made by a user authorized to unlock the status, permitting the status to be changed,

wherein changing the status comprises changing the status based on additional information that pertains to the first item.

66. The method according to claim 54, further comprising:

selectively accessing information from the server based upon characteristics of defined items to which the information pertains.

67. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine-accessible medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor-based device comprising a processor configured for executing instructions, a network interface configured for permitting the processor-based device to communicate with a server and with other devices via a communication network, an input device configured for permitting information to be inputted into the processor-based device, and a memory configured for storing instructions, information inputted via the input device, and information received via the communication network, enable the processor-based system to perform operations comprising:

defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;

receiving first information inputted via the input device;

associating first data with the first information, the first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;

transmitting, to the server via the communication network, the first information and, in association with the first information, the first data; and

accessing, from the server via the communication network, second information and, in association therewith, second data indicating a second item to which the second information pertains.

68. The article of manufacture according to claim 67, wherein the operation of defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset, comprises:

defining one or more assets; and

defining one or more events.

69. The article of manufacture according to claim 67, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving third information inputted via the input device;

transmit the third information to the server and to one or more of the client devices via the communication network; and

receiving fourth information from another client device via the communication network.

70. The article of manufacture according to claim 67,

wherein the processor-based device further comprises a display device configured to display information on the processor-based device, and

wherein the operations further comprise displaying the accessed second information on the display device.

71. The article of manufacture according to claim 69, wherein the transmission of the third information to one or more of the client devices and the reception of the fourth information from another client device occurs via the server.

72. The article of manufacture according to claim 69, wherein the operations further comprise:

associating data with the third information, the data indicating an item to which the third information pertains; and

transmitting the data to the server via the communication network, in association with the third information.

73. The article of manufacture according to claim 67, wherein the first and/or the second information comprises image, video or audio information.

74. The article of manufacture according to claim 69, wherein the transmission of the third information to the one or more client devices and the reception of the fourth information from another client device is via email or text message.

75. The article of manufacture according to claim 67, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting to the server, in association with the first information, data indicating a time at which the first information was inputted.

76. The article of manufacture according to claim 67, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting to the server, in association with the first information, data indicating a first time at which the first information was inputted;

receiving third information inputted via the input device, the third information comprising an update of the first information;

associating third data with the third information, the third data indicating that the third information pertains to the first item; and

transmitting to the server, the third information and, in association with the third information, the third data and data indicating a second time at which the third information was inputted, the second time being later than the first time.

77. The article of manufacture according to claim 67, wherein the operations further comprise:

for each defined item, defining one or more groups of authorized users, each group of authorized users comprising one or more authorized user;

for each defined group of authorized users, authorizing the users thereof to perform one or more of the following;

a) inputting, to one or more of the client devices, for uploading to the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

b) accessing, via one or more of the client devices from the server, information pertaining to one or more of the defined items; and

performing one or both of the following;

prior to the inputting of the information or prior to the uploading of the information, authenticating a user; and

prior to the accessing of the information, authenticating a user.

78. The article of manufacture according to claim 67, wherein the operations further comprise:

defining a status of the first item based on the first information;

defining a group of authorized users comprising one or more users authorized to lock or unlock the status of the first item;

in response to a request to lock the status made by a user authorized to lock the status, preventing the status from being changed; and

in response to a request to unlock the status made by a user authorized to unlock the status, permitting the status to be changed,

wherein changing the status comprises changing the status based on additional information that pertains to the first item.

79. The article of manufacture according to claim 67, wherein the operations further comprise:

selectively accessing information from the server based upon characteristics of defined items to which the information pertains.