System and Method for Situational Proximity Observation Alerting Privileged Recipients

• US 20150094095A1
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Johnson, William J. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Johnson, William J. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, William J., Johnson, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,894,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/026 using orientation information, e.g. compass
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information

Abstract

Provided is a system and method for a situational proximity observation by a Mobile data processing System (MS) using one or more automated senses of the MS, for example as directed by a user of the MS, to cause an alert to be delivered to one or more other Mobile data processing Systems (MSs) for notifying those other users of the MSs that they are potentially involved in, or affected by, the sensing carried out by the MS making the observation. Specifically, a Situational Proximity Observation Device Reporter (SPODR) senses or captures its environment within its proximity and a TRaveling Observation Device Recipient (TRODR) can be notified when the SPODR may have sensed or captured data relevant to the TRODR. There is a variety of events and conditions under which the alert is provided, including in accordance with a variety of privileges configured between users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining data for a situational proximity observation captured by a sensing mobile data processing system;

associating a time to the situational proximity observation, the time for when the situational proximity observation was captured by the sensing mobile data processing system;

associating a range to the situational proximity observation, the range for determining another mobile data processing system located in the proximity of the sensing mobile data processing system at the time for when the situational proximity observation was captured by the sensing mobile data processing system;

determining the another mobile data processing system is located in the proximity of the sensing mobile data processing system at the time for when the situational proximity observation was captured by the sensing mobile data processing system, wherein a second user of the another mobile data processing system is provided with a privilege by a first user of the sensing mobile data processing system, the privilege for permitting alerting the second user of the another mobile data processing system upon the determining the another mobile data processing system is located in the proximity of the sensing mobile data processing system at the time for when the situational proximity observation was captured by the sensing mobile data processing system; and

sending information to the another mobile data processing system for the alerting the second user of the another mobile data processing system, the information describing the situational proximity observation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the situational proximity observation includes sensing the environment with an automated emulation of a human sense.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the situational proximity observation includes detecting an invisible presence of something in the environment of the sensing mobile data processing system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the range includes a field of view for further qualifying how to perform the determining the another mobile data processing system is located in the proximity of the sensing mobile data processing system at the time for when the situational proximity observation was captured by the sensing mobile data processing system, the field of view sensed by the sensing mobile data processing system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the field of view is determined with a virtual vector.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the field of view is determined graphically.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the data for the situational proximity observation includes a photographic frame, and including processing for determining whether or not the another mobile data processing system is potentially in a field of view of the photographic frame.

8. The method of claim 7 including configuring facial recognition processing for recognizing the second user in the photographic frame.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the privilege is assigned to a group, the group including the another mobile data processing system or the second user as a member of the group.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the situational proximity observation is captured in accordance with qualification criteria processed by the sensing mobile data processing system.

11. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

determining data for a situational proximity observation captured by a sensing mobile data processing system;

associating a time to the situational proximity observation, the time for when the situational proximity observation was captured by the sensing mobile data processing system;

associating a range to the situational proximity observation, the range for determining another mobile data processing system located in the proximity of the sensing mobile data processing system at the time for when the situational proximity observation was captured by the sensing mobile data processing system;

determining the another mobile data processing system is located in the proximity of the sensing mobile data processing system at the time for when the situational proximity observation was captured by the sensing mobile data processing system, wherein a second user of the another mobile data processing system is provided with a privilege by a first user of the sensing mobile data processing system, the privilege for permitting alerting the second user of the another mobile data processing system upon the determining the another mobile data processing system is located in the proximity of the sensing mobile data processing system at the time for when the situational proximity observation was captured by the sensing mobile data processing system; and

sending information to the another mobile data processing system for the alerting the second user of the another mobile data processing system, the information describing the situational proximity observation.