METHOD TO PROVIDE AD HOC AND PASSWORD PROTECTED DIGITAL AND VOICE NETWORKS

• US 20160021522A1
• Filed: 02/27/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGIS Software Development LLC (AGIS Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Malcolm K. Beyer, Jr.
• Inventors: Beyer, Malcolm K. Jr., Rice, Christopher R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,749,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 : User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 : Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 : Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 : User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 : multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 : for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 : for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method and system includes the ability for individuals to set up an ad hoc digital and voice network easily and rapidly to allow users to coordinate their activities by eliminating the need for pre-entry of data into a web or identifying others by name, phone numbers or email. This method is especially useful for police, fire fighters, military, first responders or other emergency situations for coordinating different organizations at the scene of a disaster to elevate conventional communication problems either up and down the chain of command or cross communication between different emergency units. The method and system provides that the users are only required to enter a specific Server IP address and an ad hoc event name, a password and perhaps the name of the particular unit.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

transmitting first updated location information comprising an updated location of a first device, the transmitting being based on passage of a predetermined time interval since transmitting previous location information comprising a previous location of the first device, displacement of the first device by a predetermined distance relative to a previous location of the first device, or both;

receiving

second updated location information comprising updated locations of a plurality of second devices;

presenting, via an interactive display of the first device, an interactive map comprising a plurality of user-selectable symbols corresponding to the plurality of second devices, wherein the symbols are positioned on the map at respective positions corresponding to the updated locations of the second devices; and

identifying user interaction with the interactive map selecting one or more of the user-selectable symbols corresponding to one or more of the second devices and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, sending data to the one or more second devices.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first updated location information comprises transmitting the first updated location information to the plurality of second devices.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first updated location information comprises transmitting the first updated location information to a server communicatively coupled to the plurality of second devices.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, based on user interaction with the display, a location;

transmitting information indicating user selection of the location; and

receiving the map, wherein the map corresponds to the selected location.

32. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, to the one or more second devices, a request to form a communications network with the one or more second devices.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the request to form the communications network is sent via Short Message Service (SMS) communication.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, to a server, a request to join a communications network.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request to join a communications network, wherein the request includes an identifier of a group comprising group members permitted to communicate with each other via the communications network; and

sending data to at least one of the group members via the communications network.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

establishing voice communication with at least one of the group members via the communications network.

37. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying user interaction with the display specifying another action and, based thereon, establishing voice communication the one or more second devices.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the first updated location information comprises transmitting the first updated location information via the Internet.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second updated location information comprises receiving the second updated location information via the Internet.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen display, and wherein the user interaction with the interactive map comprises touching the user-selectable symbols.

2-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A system comprising:

one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising;

transmitting first updated location information comprising an updated location of a first device, the transmitting being based on passage of a predetermined time interval since transmitting previous location information comprising a previous location of the first device, displacement of the first device by a predetermined distance relative to a previous location of the first device, or both;

receiving

second updated location information comprising updated locations of a plurality of second devices;

presenting, via an interactive display of the first device, an interactive map comprising a plurality of user-selectable symbols corresponding to the plurality of second devices, wherein the symbols are positioned on the map at respective positions corresponding to the updated locations of the second devices; and

identifying user interaction with the interactive map selecting one or more of the user-selectable symbols corresponding to one or more of the second devices and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, sending data to the one or more second devices.

41. The system of claim 13, wherein transmitting the first updated location information comprises transmitting the first updated location information to the plurality of second devices.

42. The system of claim 13, wherein transmitting the first updated location information comprises transmitting the first updated location information to a server communicatively coupled to the plurality of second devices.

43. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying, based on user interaction with the display, a location and a display range;

transmitting information indicating user selection of the location and display range; and

receiving the map, wherein the map corresponds to the selected location and display range.

44. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

sending, to the one or more second devices, a request to form a communications network with the one or more second devices.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the request to form the communications network is sent via Short Message Service (SMS) communication.

46. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

sending, to a server, a request to join a communications network.

47. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

sending a request to join a communications network, wherein the request includes an identifier of a group comprising group members permitted to communicate with each other via the communications network; and

sending data to at least one of the group members via the communications network.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing voice communication with at least one of the group members via the communications network.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying user interaction with the display specifying another action and, based thereon, establishing voice communication the one or more second devices.

50. The system of claim 13, wherein transmitting the first updated location information comprises transmitting the first updated location information via the Internet.

51. The system of claim 13, wherein receiving the second updated location information comprises receiving the second updated location information via the Internet.

52. The system of claim 13, wherein the display is a touch screen display, and wherein the user interaction with the interactive map comprises touching the user-selectable symbols.

14-28. -28. (canceled)