Data base for a locator system

• US 6,078,282 A
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul J. Casey
• Original Assignee: Paul J. Casey
• Inventors: Casey, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/105,954
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/357.13, 342/357.06, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/825.54, 701/208
• US Class Current: 342/357.55
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]

Abstract

A locator system for quickly disseminating stored information about the lost person or item utilizes input data in text, pictorial and video form which is selectively sent to facilities that can use the information (text, pictorial and video to TV stations; text and pictorial to police; text to radio; text and pictorial to the internet). The system also utilizes a GPS system and a receiver on the person or item to be located to aid the police in finding the location of the person or item.

Claims

1. A locator system for quickly disseminating information to a plurality of agencies to aid in determining the present location of an entity comprising:

a computer system having sufficient memory to retain file data on a great number of different entities;

input means for storing both factual and pictorial data in each file of said entities;

a modem bank connecting said computer system to a plurality of agencies; and

an initiation system connected to said computer system to selectively send a particular entities stored file data and a current update of same as of the initiation of the system along said modem bank to said plurality of agencies.

2. A locator system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input means includes a digital camera, video camera and a textual fact sheet used to provide factual and pictorial information to an optical scan system connected to said computer system to set up an individual data file for a particular entity.

3. A locator system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said initiation system includes a telephonic connection to a validation system for checking the location and identity of said telephonic connector requesting a particular entity data file before initiating the computer system to send said data file to said plurality of agencies.

4. A locator system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said validation system includes means for connecting the telephonic connection to an operator interface for inputting update information into the entity file before said file is disseminated to said agencies.

5. A locator system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said optical scan system connected to said computer system is also connected to said operator interface to provide both factual and pictorial update information for the identified particular entitie'"'"'s file.

6. A locator system as set forth in claim 5 including a messaging center connected to communicate with said computer system for receiving signals from a GPS receiver located on the identified entity and sending the location corresponding to said receiving signal to said computer system for transmission of the location to said agencies.

7. A locator system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said computer system includes a main host computer and a redundant back-up computer connected to communicate with said host computer to share all data thereby and to take over the function of the host computer should a failure occur therein.

8. A locator system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said agencies include local TV stations, radio stations, police, hospitals, and the internet.

9. A locator system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said computer system controls said modem bank to send appropriate textual and pictorial information to said agencies.

10. A method for quickly disseminating information to a plurality of agencies to aid in locating of an entity comprising the steps of:

inputting textual and pictorial information about the entity into a computer system having sufficient memory to retain this information in individual file data on a great number of different entities;

connecting the computer system to a plurality of agencies that may help in locating the present location of the entity;

initiating the computer system to selectively send a particular entities stored and updated as of the time of initiating the computer system file data along said modem bank to the plurality of agencies.

11. A method for quickly disseminating information to a plurality of agencies to aid in locating of an entity as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of initiating the computer system includes the steps of identifying the identity of the party initiating the computer system, requesting update information on the current status of the entity from the party initiating the computer system and inputting this update information into the data file of the identified entity prior to disseminating the data file information to the plurality of agencies.

12. A method for quickly disseminating information to a plurality of agencies to aid in locating of an entity as set forth in claim 11 wherein the step of inputting information on the entity includes the step of placing a transmitter on the entity to provide a signal to the computer as to the present location of the entity.

13. A method for quickly disseminating information to a plurality of agencies to aid in locating of an entity as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of disseminating information to the plurality of agencies includes the disseminating of information as to the present location of the entity.

14. A method for quickly disseminating information to a plurality of agencies to aid in locating of an entity as set forth in claim 13 includes the step of disseminating pictorial, textual and present location information selectively to agencies that are able to utilize the sent information.

15. A method for quickly disseminating information to a plurality of agencies to aid in locating of an entity as set forth in claim 14 including the providing of a pair of computers in the computer system that are able to communicate with each other to share the data of each and to allow one of the to take over the functions of the other if the one computer should fail.

16. A method for quickly disseminating information to a plurality of agencies to aid in locating of an entity as set forth in claim 15 including the steps of setting up a series of computer systems for various regions of the country connected to the local agencies of that part of the country and the step of initiating the computer includes the identification of the region from which the initiating call is originating.

17. A method for quickly disseminating information to a plurality of agencies to aid in locating of an entity as set forth in claim 16 wherein the step of initiating the computer includes the step of sending the data file of the identified entity to the region from which the call is originating for local dissemination to the local agencies.