System and method for managing response to a need at a site

• US 6,701,156 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Sand, Paul Raymond, Akhteruzzaman, Akhter, Sparber, Richard Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US09/740,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.49, 340/988, 340/7.5, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/521, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/440, 455/517, 455/11.1, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/3.05, 455/414.2, 455/414.1, 455/424, 455/426.1, 455/435.1, 455/448, 455/450, 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 455/458, 455/507, 455/510, 455/511, 455/520, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 455/521
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

A system for managing response to a need at a site includes: (a) a control facility that can effect wireless data communication and voice communication; and (b) a plurality of response units that can effect wireless data communication and voice communication. The control facility effects an initial contact with a selected response unit using wireless data communication. The selected response unit communicates a response signal to the initial contact using wireless data communication. The response signal includes characteristic data relating to the selected responding unit that includes information relating to situs of the selected responding unit. The method includes steps of: (a) providing a managing facility and responding units; (b) effecting initial contact among the managing facility and selected responding units using wireless data communication; and (c) communicating a responsive signal by a responding unit to the managing facility using wireless data communication.

Claims

1. A system for managing response to a need at a site;

the system comprising;

(a) a managing facility; and

(b) a plurality of responding units;

said managing facility identifying said need and said site;

said managing facility being in wireless communication for effecting an initial contact with at least one selected responding unit of said plurality of responding units;

said at least one selected responding unit communicating a responsive signal to said initial contact;

said responsive signal including characteristic data relating to said at least one selected responding unit;

said characteristic data including information relating to situs of said at least one selected responding unit;

said characteristic data further including information relating to equipment available with said at least one selected responding unit.

2. A system for managing response to a need at a site as recited in claim 1 wherein said characteristic data further includes information relating to training level of personnel available with said at least one selected responding unit.

3. A system for managing response to a need at a site as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one selected responding unit includes a locator system for determining location of said at least one selected responding system, wherein said initial contact includes information relating to said site and wherein said at least one selected responding unit employs said locator system and said information relating to said site to generate travel directions from said situs to said site.

4. A system for coordinating a response to a need at a site;

the system comprising;

(a) a control facility;

said control facility having a control wireless communication unit;

said control wireless communication unit being capable of effecting wireless data communication and being capable of effecting wireless voice communication; and

(b) a plurality of response units;

each respective response unit of said plurality of response units having a respective response wireless communication unit;

each said respective response wireless communication unit being capable of effecting wireless data communication and being capable of effecting wireless voice communication;

said control facility identifying said need and said site;

said control facility effecting an initial contact with at least one selected response unit of said plurality of response units;

said initial contact being effected using said wireless data communication;

said at least one selected response unit communicating a response signal to said initial contact;

said response signal being effected using said wireless data communication;

said response signal including characteristic data relating to said at least one selected responding unit;

said characteristic data including information relating to situs of said at least one selected responding unit;

said characteristic data further including information relating to equipment available with said at least one selected responding unit.

5. A system for coordinating a response to a need at a site as recited in claim 4 wherein said characteristic data further includes information relating to training level of personnel available with said at least one selected responding unit.

6. A system for coordinating a response to a need at a site as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one selected responding unit includes a locator system for determining location of said at least one selected responding system, wherein said initial contact includes information relating to said site and wherein said at least one selected responding unit employs said locator system and said information relating to said site to generate travel directions from said situs to said site.

7. A method for coordinating a response to a need at a site;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing, in no particular order;

(1) a managing facility;

said managing facility having a managing communication unit capable of effecting wireless data communication and capable of effecting wireless voice communication; and

(2) a plurality of responding units;

each respective responding unit of said plurality of responding units having a response wireless communication unit capable of effecting wireless data communication and capable of effecting wireless voice communication;

(b) effecting an initial contact by said managing facility with at least one selected responding unit of said plurality of responding units;

said initial contact being effected using said wireless data communication; and

(c) communicating a responsive signal by said at least one selected responding unit to said managing facility;

said responsive signal being effected using said wireless data communication;

said responsive signal including information relating to situs of said at least one selected responding unit;

said information further relating to equipment available with said at least one selected responding unit.

8. A method for coordinating a response to a need at a site as recited in claim 7 wherein said at least one selected responding unit includes a locator system for determining location of said at least one selected responding system, wherein said initial contact includes information relating to said site and wherein the method comprises the further step of:

(d) said at least one selected responding unit employing said locator system and said information relating to said site to generate travel directions from said situs to said site.

9. A method for coordinating a response to a need at a site as recited in claim 7 wherein said information further relates to training level of personnel available with said at least one selected responding unit.

10. A system for managing response to a need at a site;

the system comprising;

(a) a managing facility; and

(b) a plurality of responding units;

said managing facility identifying said need and said site;

said managing facility being in wireless communication for effecting an initial contact with at least one selected responding unit of said plurality of responding units;

said at least one selected responding unit communicating a responsive signal to said initial contact;

said responsive signal including characteristic data relating to said at least one selected responding unit;

said characteristic data including information relating to situs of said at least one selected responding unit;

said characteristic data further including information relating to training level of personnel available with said at least one selected responding unit.

11. A system for coordinating a response to a need at a site;

the system comprising;

(a) a control facility;

said control facility having a control wireless communication unit;

said control wireless communication unit being capable of effecting wireless data communication and being capable of effecting wireless voice communication; and

(b) a plurality of response units;

each respective response unit of said plurality of response units having a respective response wireless communication unit;

each said respective response wireless communication unit being capable of effecting wireless data communication and being capable of effecting wireless voice communication;

said control facility identifying said need and said site;

said control facility effecting an initial contact with at least one selected response unit of said plurality of response units;

said initial contact being effected using said wireless data communication;

said at least one selected response unit communicating a response signal to said initial contact;

said response signal being effected using said wireless data communication;

said response signal including characteristic data relating to said at least one selected responding unit;

said characteristic data including information relating to situs of said at least one selected responding unit;

said characteristic data further including information relating to training level of personnel available with said at least one selected responding unit.

12. A method for coordinating a response to a need at a site;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing, in no particular order;

(1) a managing facility;

said managing facility having a managing communication unit capable of effecting wireless data communication and capable of effecting wireless voice communication; and

(2) a plurality of responding units;

each respective responding unit of said plurality of responding units having a response wireless communication unit capable of effecting wireless data communication and capable of effecting wireless voice communication;

(b) effecting an initial contact by said managing facility with at least one selected responding unit of said plurality of responding units;

said initial contact being effected using said wireless data communication; and

(c) communicating a responsive signal by said at least one selected responding unit to said managing facility;

said responsive signal being effected using said wireless data communication;

said responsive signal including information relating to situs of said at least one selected responding unit;

said information further relating to equipment available with said at least one selected responding unit.