Alert notification system

• US 6,816,878 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackboard Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Daniel W. Davis, Steven L. Zimmers
• Inventors: Zimmers, Steven L., Davis, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Rupal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baugh, April L
• Application Number:
  US09/503,141
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/217, 709/218
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66

Abstract

A system for providing alert notifications to multiple persons or to a plurality of related geographic locations. The system stores a database of information including a plurality of communications identifiers and additional information for subscribers having those identifiers, including geographic locations and/or school/organization membership information. The system responds to commands identifying alerts to be delivered to affected geographic areas or schools/organizations, by retrieving communications identifiers in the threatened geographic location or associated with the named school/organization, establishing a communications connection using each retrieved communication identifier, and delivering the alert. Alerts may be initiated by authorized personnel via telephone or Internet interaction with the system, or may be generated automatically from data feeds such as the EMWIN system of the National Weather Service. Alerts may be delivered via telephone, pager (voice or text), e-mail, Internet, or other media.

Claims

1. A system for providing a warning signal to a plurality of persons and/or locations on a geographic basis, comprising:

a database and a tandem database each storing a plurality of communications identifiers, and storing an association of each said identifier with a geographic location thereof,

a computer system and a tandem computer system each responding to a command identifying a geographic area and a warning to be provided to said geographic area, by comparing geographic locations of communications identifiers with said geographic area, retrieving individual matching communications identifiers and establishing a communications connection in response to the command using each retrieved communications identifier and delivering said warning via said communications connection,

the tandem database and tandem computer system in communication with the database and computer system and sharing information regarding warnings to be provided by either of them,

wherein said comparing and retrieving steps are performed after receipt of said command.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is located in a geographic location distant from at least some of the geographic locations identified within said database.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer system comprises a host computer and a telecommunication interface for receiving telephone numbers and audio messages from said host computer for delivery to said telephone numbers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications identifiers are identifiers for use with a publicly switched telephonic communications system.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said communications identifiers are telephone numbers.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said telephone numbers comprise an area code, exchange number and directory number.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said telephone numbers further comprise a country code.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications identifiers are electronic mail addresses for use with a computer network.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said computer network is a global computer network.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications identifiers are Internet protocol addresses for use with an Internet protocol computer network.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer system further comprises a threat identification system for receiving threat information, said threat identification system evaluating said threat information to identify a geographic area subject to a threat and in response generate said command identifying said geographic area and a warning related to the identified threat.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said threat identification system identifies weather threats applicable to said geographic area.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said threat identification system comprises a communications connection to a National Weather Service information service.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said threat identification system receives text information describing weather conditions and comprises a parser for parsing said text information to identify weather threats and geographic areas to which said threats apply.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said warning signal identifies a weather threat applicable to said geographic area.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein said warning signal warns of hazardous atmospheric conditions applicable to said geographic area.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said warning signal warns of poor air quality in said geographic area.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said warning signal warns of a toxic release in said geographic area.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein said warning signal warns of harmful radiation in said geographic area.

71. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer system further establishes a prioritization of communications identifiers using data in said database, and establishes said communications connections in a prioritized order.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein data in said database includes characteristics of a person and/or location addressed by a communications identifier, and prioritization of communications identifiers includes determining persons and/or locations most likely to be adversely affected by the subject matter of said warning.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of buildings at locations addressed by communications identifiers.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of the heights of buildings at locations addressed by communications identifiers.

75. The system of claim 73 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of temporary and permanent buildings at locations addressed by communications identifiers.

76. The system of claim 72 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of locations susceptible to flooding that are addressed by communications identifiers.

77. The system of claim 71 wherein said data in said database includes characteristics of persons and/or locations addressed by communications identifiers, and prioritization of communications identifiers includes determining persons most likely to be adversely affected by the subject matter of said warning.

78. The system of claim 77 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of persons requiring special assistance to seek shelter that are addressed by communications identifiers.

79. The system of claim 77 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of persons particularly susceptible to respiratory distress that are addressed by communications identifiers.

98. The system of claim 1 wherein said database stores first and second communications identifiers associated with separately identified geographic locations within a given geographic area.

99. The system of claim 98 wherein said system responds to a command identifying said given geographic area by retrieving said first and second communications identifiers.

100. The system of claim 1 wherein said database stores, for each of a plurality of warning types, data relevant to each said warning type.

101. The system of claim 100 wherein said database stores association of communications identifiers with warning types, said command identifies a warning type, and said computer system compares warning types of communications identifiers with a warning type of a command and determines whether there is a match.

102. The system of claim 100 wherein said database stores an indication of system users authorized to generate a warning type, said command identifies a warning type, and said system determines whether a user originating a command is authorized to generate a warning of the type identified by a command as part of responding to the command.

103. The system of claim 13 wherein said threat identification system projects a path expected to be followed by a threat and identifies a geographic area subject to said threat based on the projected path.

104. The system of claim 103 wherein said threat identification system is responsive to said path and status information on previously executed commands to discontinue issuance of warnings based on said command.

105. The system of claim 103 wherein said threat identification system is responsive to said path and status information on previously executed commands to identify communications identifiers not identified from previously executed commands.

106. The system of claim 13 wherein said threat identification system evaluates one or more of

a location of a threat

a speed of a threat

a heading of a threat

a shape of a threat

to identify a geographic area subject to a threat.

107. The system of claim 14 wherein said threat identification system comprises a communications connection to a weather radar system.

108. The system of claim 8 wherein said electronic mail addresses correspond to text pagers.

109. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer system is further responsive to identifying a location of a mobile device addressed by a communications identifier, by storing in said database an association of said communications identifier with said location.

110. The system of claim 109 wherein said computer system establishes a communications connection and delivers a warning to a mobile device which has been identified in tracking information to be at a location which matches a geographic area identified in a command that identifies said warning.

111. The system of claim 71 wherein said prioritization is based upon the proximity of a threat to the geographic locations associated with said communications identifiers.

112. The system of claim 71 wherein said computer system establishes a prioritization using a criterion for public switched telecommunications network resources.

113. The system of claim 71 wherein said prioritization provides enhanced priority to communications identifiers of persons and/or locations that will or may provide said warning to other persons and/or locations.

114. The system of claim 73 wherein said computer system prioritizes buildings based upon adequacy of shelter provided by said buildings.

115. The system of claim 73 wherein said computer system prioritizes more populous buildings before less populous buildings.

116. The system of claim 73 wherein said computer system prioritizes buildings based upon their purposes.

117. The system of claim 116 wherein said computer system prioritizes buildings that cater to one or more of elderly, juvenile, infirm or ill persons before buildings catering to the general public.

118. The system of claim 78 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of persons requiring special assistance due based on one or more of an elderly, juvenile, infirm or ill condition of such persons.

161. The system of claim 1 wherein said tandem computer system and tandem database are located in a geographic location distant from said computer system and database.

162. The system of claim 1 wherein said tandem computer system and tandem database are located in a common geographic location with said computer system and database.

163. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer systems communicate to task one of them with handling each warning delivery.

164. The system of claim 1 wherein, in the event of a failure of one of said databases or computer systems, the other database or computer system handles all outstanding warning deliveries.

165. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer systems communicate to synchronize data in said databases.

166. The system of claim 165 wherein said computer system tasks said tandem computer system to concurrently deliver warnings with said computer system.

167. The system of claim 165 wherein said computer system delivers to said tandem computer system one or more of a command, identifier selection criteria for a command, a warning, prioritization information regarding communications identifiers, and communications identifiers.

168. The system of claim 165 wherein said computer systems exchange status and recipient response information regarding the delivery of warnings.

185. The system of claim 3 wherein said telecommunication interface comprises a host controlled telephone switch coupled to said host computer.

188. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications identifiers are telephone numbers, and said association is an association of one or more of an area code or exchange of said telephone numbers with geographic locations.

189. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer system is responsive to status information on previously executed commands in determining a manner of responding to a command.

190. The system of claim 189 wherein said computer system is responsive to a command and status information on previously executed commands to discontinue issuance of warnings based on previously executed commands.

191. The system of claim 189 wherein said computer system is responsive to a command and status information on previously executed commands to identify communications identifiers of persons and/or locations that have not already received a warning based on previously executed commands.

198. The system of claim 15 wherein said communications connection is an Internet connection.

199. The system of claim 15 wherein said communications connection is a radio connection.

200. The system of claim 15 wherein said communications connection is a satellite connection.

22. A system for providing an atmospheric condition announcement to a plurality of persons and/or locations, comprising:

a database and a tandem database each storing a plurality of communications identifiers for persons and/or locations in need of atmospheric condition information, and storing an association of each said identifier with identifications of atmospheric condition information to be provided to those persons and/or locations,

a computer system and a tandem computer system each responding to a command identifying an atmospheric condition to be announced to said persons and/or locations, by analyzing identifications of atmospheric conditions in said database to identify target persons and/or locations to be notified of said atmospheric condition, retrieving from said database, individual matching communications identifiers associated with said target persons and/or locations, and establishing a communications connection using each retrieved communications identifier and delivering an announcement of said atmospheric condition via said communications connection,

the tandem database and tandem computer system in communication with the database and computer system and sharing information regarding announcements to be provided by either of them,

wherein said analyzing and retrieving steps are performed after receipt of said command.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said system is located in a geographic location distant from at least some of the persons and/or locations identified within said database.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer system comprises a host computer and a telecommunication interface for receiving telephone numbers and audio messages from said host computer for delivery to said persons and/or locations.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said communications identifiers are identifiers for use with a publicly switched telephonic communications system.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said communications identifiers are telephone numbers.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said telephone numbers comprise an area code, exchange number and directory number.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said telephone numbers further comprise a country code.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein said communications identifiers are electronic mail addresses for use with a computer network.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said computer network is a global computer network.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein said communications identifiers are Internet protocol addresses for use with an Internet protocol computer network.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

34. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer system further comprises an atmospheric event identification system for receiving atmospheric event information, said atmospheric event identification system evaluating said atmospheric event information to identify persons and/or locations interested in an atmospheric event and in response generate said command identifying said announcement related to the identified event.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said atmospheric event identification system identifies weather threats.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said atmospheric event identification system comprises a communications connection to a National Weather Service information service.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said atmospheric event identification system receives text information describing weather conditions and comprises a parser for parsing said text information to identify weather events.

38. The system of claim 22 wherein said atmospheric condition announcement identifies a weather event applicable to persons and/or locations receiving the message.

39. The system of claim 22 wherein said atmospheric condition announcement warns of hazardous atmospheric conditions applicable to said geographic area.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said atmospheric condition announcement warns of poor air quality in said geographic area.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein said atmospheric condition announcement warns of a toxic release in said geographic area.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein said atmospheric condition announcement warns of harmful radiation in said geographic area.

80. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer system further establishes a prioritization of communications identifiers using data in said database, and establishes said communications connections in a prioritized order.

81. The system of claim 80 wherein data in said database includes characteristics of a person and/or location addressed by a communications identifier, and prioritization of communications identifiers includes determining persons and/or locations most likely to be adversely affected by the atmospheric condition that is the subject of said announcement.

82. The system of claim 81 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of buildings at locations addressed by communications identifiers.

83. The system of claim 82 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of the heights of buildings at locations addressed by communications identifiers.

84. The system of claim 82 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of temporary and permanent buildings at locations addressed by communications identifiers.

86. The system of claim 80 wherein said data in said database includes characteristics of persons and/or locations addressed by communications identifiers, and prioritization of communications identifiers includes determining persons and/or locations most likely to be adversely affected by the atmospheric condition that is the subject of said announcement.

87. The system of claim 86 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of persons requiring special assistance to seek shelter that are addressed by communications identifiers.

88. The system of claim 86 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of persons particularly susceptible to respiratory distress that are addressed by communications identifiers.

119. The system of claim 22 wherein said database stores first and second communications identifiers associated with separately identified atmospheric conditions.

120. The system of claim 119 wherein said system responds to a command identifying an atmospheric condition matching the atmospheric conditions associated with said first and second communications identifiers by retrieving said first and second communications identifiers.

121. The system of claim 22 wherein said database stores, for each of a plurality of atmospheric condition types, data relevant to each said atmospheric condition type.

122. The system of claim 121 wherein said database stores association of communications identifiers with atmospheric condition types, said command identifies an atmospheric condition type, and said computer system compares atmospheric condition types of communications identifiers with an atmospheric condition type of a command and determines whether there is a match.

123. The system of claim 121 wherein said database stores an indication of system users authorized to annoyances an atmospheric condition, said command identifies an atmospheric condition, and said system determines whether a user originating a command is authorized to announce atmospheric condition identified by a command as part of responding to the command.

124. The system of claim 34 wherein said atmospheric event identification system projects a path expected to be followed by an atmospheric condition and identifies persons and/or locations subject to said atmospheric condition based on the projected path.

125. The system of claim 124 wherein said event identification system is responsive to said path and status information on previously executed commands to discontinue issuance of announcements based on previously identified commands.

126. The system of claim 124 wherein said event identification system is responsive to said path and status information on previously executed commands to identify communications identifiers not identified from previously executed commands.

127. The system of claim 34 wherein said atmospheric event identification system evaluates one or more of

a location of an atmospheric condition

a speed of an atmospheric condition

a heading of an atmospheric condition

a shape of an atmospheric condition

to identify persons and/or locations subject to an atmospheric condition.

128. The system of claim 35 wherein said threat event identification system comprises a communications connection to a weather radar system.

129. The system of claim 29 wherein said electronic mail addresses correspond to text pagers.

130. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer system is further responsive to identifying a location of a mobile device addressed by a communications identifier, by storing in said database an association of said communications identifier with said location.

131. The system of claim 130 wherein said computer system establishes a communications connection and delivers an announcement to a mobile device which has been identified in tracking information to be at a location which matches a geographic area identified in a command that identifies said announcement.

133. The system of claim 80 wherein said computer system establishes a prioritization using a criterion for public switched telecommunications network resources.

134. The system of claim 80 wherein said prioritization provides enhanced priority to communications identifiers of persons and/or locations that will or may provide said announcement to other persons and/or locations.

135. The system of claim 82 wherein said computer system prioritizes buildings based upon adequacy of shelter provided by said buildings.

136. The system of claim 82 wherein said computer system prioritizes more populous buildings before less populous buildings.

137. The system of claim 82 wherein said computer system prioritizes buildings based upon their purposes.

138. The system of claim 137 wherein said computer system prioritizes buildings that cater to one or more of elderly, juvenile, infirm or ill persons before buildings catering to the general public.

139. The system of claim 87 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of persons requiring special assistance due based on one or more of an elderly, juvenile, infirm or ill condition of such persons.

147. The system of claim 124 wherein said event identification system is responsive to said path and status information on previously executed commands to identify communications identifiers not identified from previously executed commands.

169. The system of claim 22 wherein said tandem computer system and tandem database are located in a geographic location distant from said computer system and database.

170. The system of claim 22 wherein said tandem computer system and tandem database are located in a common geographic location with said computer system and database.

171. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer systems communicate to task one of them with handling each announcement delivery.

172. The system of claim 22 wherein, in the event of a failure of one of said databases or computer systems, the other database or computer system handles all outstanding announcement deliveries.

173. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer systems communicate to synchronize data in said databases.

174. The system of claim 173 wherein said computer system tasks said tandem computer system to concurrently deliver announcements with said computer system.

175. The system of claim 173 wherein said computer system delivers to said tandem computer system one or more of a command, identifier selection criteria for a command, an announcement, prioritization information regarding communications identifiers, and communications identifiers.

176. The system of claim 173 wherein said computer systems exchange status and recipient response information regarding the delivery of announcements.

186. The system of claim 24 wherein said telecommunication interface comprises a host controlled telephone switch coupled to said host computer.

192. The system of claim 22 wherein said computer system is responsive to status information on previously executed commands in determining a manner of responding to a command.

193. The system of claim 192 wherein said computer system is responsive to a command and status information on previously executed commands to discontinue issuance of announcements based on previously executed commands.

194. The system of claim 192 wherein said computer system is responsive to a command and status information on previously executed commands to identify communications identifiers of persons and/or locations that have not already received an announcement based on previously executed commands.

201. The system of claim 36 wherein said communications connection is an Internet connection.

202. The system of claim 36 wherein said communications connection is a radio connection.

203. The system of claim 36 wherein said communications connection is a satellite connection.

43. A system for providing time-sensitive announcements to a plurality of persons and/or locations, comprising:

a database and a tandem database each storing a plurality of communications identifiers, and storing an association of each communications identifier with data useful for determining whether particular time-sensitive information is to be communicated to said communications identifier,

a computer system and a tandem computer system each responding to a command identifying an announcement to be announced to interested persons and/or locations, by comparing said command to said data useful for determining whether particular time-sensitive information is to be communicated to said persons and/or locations, retrieving from said database, individual matching communications identifiers associated with persons and/or locations to whom said time-sensitive announcement is to be communicated in response to the command, and establishing a communications connection using each retrieved communications identifier and delivering said time-sensitive announcement via said communications connection,

the tandem database and tandem computer system in communication with the database and computer system and sharing information regarding announcements to be provided by either of them,

wherein said comparing and retrieving steps are performed after receipt of said command.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said system is located in a geographic location distant from at least some of the persons and/or locations reached by the communications identifiers identified within said database.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein said computer system comprises a host computer and a telecommunication interface for receiving telephone numbers and audio messages from said host computer for delivery to said telephone numbers.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein said communications identifiers are identifiers for use with a publicly switched telephonic communications system.

47. The system of claim 46 wherein said communications identifiers are telephone numbers.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said telephone numbers comprise an area code, exchange number and directory number.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said telephone numbers further comprise a country code.

50. The system of claim 43 wherein said communications identifiers are electronic mail addresses for use with a computer network.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said computer network is a global computer network.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

53. The system of claim 43 wherein said communications identifiers are Internet protocol addresses for use with an Internet protocol computer network.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein said computer network is the Internet.

55. The system of claim 43 wherein said computer system further comprises an event identification system for receiving event information, said event identification system evaluating said event information to identify communications identifiers for persons and/or locations interested in an event and in response generate said command identifying said announcement related to the identified event.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein said event identification system identifies weather threats.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein said event identification system comprises a communications connection to a National Weather Service information service.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein said event identification system receives text information describing weather conditions and comprises a parser for parsing said text information to identify weather threats.

59. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement identifies a weather threat applicable to persons and/or locations receiving the message.

60. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement warns of hazardous atmospheric conditions applicable to a geographic area.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein said announcement warns of poor air quality in said geographic area.

62. The system of claim 60 wherein said announcement warns of a toxic release in said geographic area.

63. The system of claim 60 wherein said announcement warns of harmful radiation in said geographic area.

64. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement identifies unavailability of a public service at a particular time.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein said announcement identifies a school closing.

66. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement identifies a traffic condition.

67. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement identifies an unscheduled closing of a public place.

68. The system of claim 43 wherein said announcement identifies a change in a regularly scheduled activity.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein said regularly scheduled activity is the movements of a public transportation system.

70. The system of claim 68 wherein said regularly scheduled activity is the hours of business of a place of public accommodation.

89. The system of claim 43 wherein said computer system further establishes a prioritization of communications identifiers using data in said database, and establishes said communications connections in a prioritized order.

90. The system of claim 89 wherein data in said database includes characteristics of a person and/or location addressed by a communications identifier, and prioritization of communications identifiers includes determining persons and/or locations most likely to be adversely affected by the subject matter of said announcement.

91. The system of claim 90 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of buildings at locations addressed by communications identifiers.

92. The system of claim 91 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of the heights of buildings at locations addressed by communications identifiers.

93. The system of claim 91 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of temporary and permanent buildings at locations addressed by communications identifiers.

94. The system of claim 90 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of locations susceptible to flooding that are addressed by communications identifiers.

95. The system of claim 89 wherein said data in said database includes characteristics of persons and/or locations addressed by communications identifiers, and prioritization of communications identifiers includes determining persons most likely to be adversely affected by the subject matter of said announcement.

96. The system of claim 95 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of persons requiring special assistance to seek shelter that are addressed by communications identifiers.

97. The system of claim 95 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of persons particularly susceptible to respiratory distress that are addressed by communications identifiers.

140. The system of claim 43 wherein said database stores first and second communications identifiers associated with separately identified data useful for determining whether particular information is to be communicated to said communications identifiers.

141. The system of claim 140 wherein said system responds to a command identifying an announcement matching said data useful for determining whether particular information is to be communicated to said communications identifiers by retrieving said first and second communications identifiers.

142. The system of claim 43 wherein said database stores, for each of a plurality of announcement types, data relevant to each said announcement type.

143. The system of claim 142 wherein said database stores association of communications identifiers with announcement types, said command identifies an announcement type, and said computer system compares announcement types of communications identifiers with an announcement type of a command and determines whether there is a match.

144. The system of claim 142 wherein said database stores an indication of system users authorized to generate an announcement type, said command identifies an announcement type, and said system determines whether a user originating a command is authorized to generate an announcement of the type identified by a command as part of responding to the command.

145. The system of claim 55 wherein said event identification system projects a path expected to be followed by an atmospheric condition and identifies a geographic area subject to said atmospheric condition based on the projected path.

146. The system of claim 145 wherein said event identification system is responsive to said path and status information on previously executed commands to discontinue issuance of announcements based on previously identified commands.

148. The system of claim 55 wherein said event identification system evaluates one or more of

a location of an event condition

a speed of an event condition

a heading of an event condition

a shape of an event condition

to identify a geographic area subject to an event condition.

149. The system of claim 56 wherein said event identification system comprises a communications connection to a weather radar system.

150. The system of claim 50 wherein said electronic mail addresses correspond to text pagers.

151. The system of claim 43 wherein said computer system is further responsive to identifying a location of a mobile device addressed by a communications identifier, by storing in said database an association of said communications identifier with said location.

152. The system of claim 151 wherein said computer system establishes a communications connection and delivers an announcement to a mobile device which has been identified in tracking information to be at a location which matches a geographic area identified in a command that identifies said announcement.

153. The system of claim 89 wherein said announcement relates to an atmospheric threat, and said prioritization is based upon the proximity of the threat to the geographic locations associated with said communications identifiers.

154. The system of claim 89 wherein said computer system establishes a prioritization using a criterion for public switched telecommunications network resources.

155. The system of claim 89 wherein said prioritization provides enhanced priority to communications identifiers of persons and/or locations that will or may provide said announcement to other persons and/or locations.

156. The system of claim 91 wherein said computer system prioritizes buildings based upon adequacy of shelter provided by said buildings.

157. The system of claim 91 wherein said computer system prioritizes more populous buildings before less populous buildings.

158. The system of claim 91 wherein said computer system prioritizes buildings based upon their purposes.

159. The system of claim 158 wherein said computer system prioritizes buildings that cater to one or more of elderly, juvenile, infirm or ill persons before buildings catering to the general public.

160. The system of claim 96 wherein said data in said database enables distinction of persons requiring special assistance due based on one or more of an elderly, juvenile, infirm or ill condition of such persons.

177. The system of claim 43 wherein said tandem computer system and tandem database is located in a geographic location distant from said computer system and database.

178. The system of claim 43 wherein said tandem computer system and tandem database are located in a common geographic location with said computer system and database.

179. The system of claim 43 wherein said computer systems communicate to task one of them with handling each announcement delivery.

180. The system of claim 43 wherein, in the event of a failure of one of said databases or computer systems, the other database or computer system handles all outstanding announcement deliveries.

181. The system of claim 43 wherein said computer systems communicate to synchronize data in said databases.

182. The system of claim 181 wherein said computer system tasks said tandem computer system to concurrently deliver announcements with said computer system.

183. The system of claim 181 wherein said computer system delivers to said tandem computer system one or more of a command, identifier selection criteria for a command, an announcement, prioritization information regarding communications identifiers, and communications identifiers.

184. The system of claim 181 wherein said computer systems exchange status and recipient response information regarding the delivery of announcements.

187. The system of claim 45 wherein said telecommunication interface comprises a host controlled telephone switch coupled to said host computer.

195. The system of claim 55 wherein said event identification system is responsive to status information on previously executed commands in determining-a manner of responding to said command.

196. The system of claim 195 wherein said computer system is responsive to a command and status information on previously executed commands to discontinue issuance of announcements based on previously executed commands.

197. The system of claim 195 wherein said computer system is responsive to a command and status information on previously executed commands to identify communications identifiers of persons and/or locations that have not already received an announcement based on previously executed commands.

204. The system of claim 57 wherein said communications connection is an Internet connection.

205. The system of claim 57 wherein said communications connection is a radio connection.

206. The system of claim 57 wherein said communications connection is a satellite connection.

85. The system of claim al wherein said data in said database enables distinction of locations susceptible to flooding that are addressed by communications identifiers.

132. The system of claim so wherein said announcement relates to an atmospheric threat, and said prioritization is based upon the proximity of the threat to the geographic locations associated with said communications identifiers.

207. A method for warning a plurality of persons and/or locations on a geographic basis, comprising:

storing simultaneously at tandem locations a plurality of communications identifiers, and storing an association of each said identifier with a geographic location thereof,

responding at one or both of said tandem locations to a command identifying a geographic area and a warning to be provided to said geographic area, by comparing geographic locations of communications identifiers with said geographic area, retrieving individual matching communications identifiers and establishing a communications connection in response to the command using each retrieved communications identifier and delivering said warning via said communications connection,

communicating and sharing information between the tandem locations regarding warnings to be provided by either of them,

wherein said comparing and retrieving steps are performed after receipt of said command.

208. The method of claim 207 performed using a host computer and a telecommunication interface for receiving telephone numbers and audio messages from said host computer for delivery to said telephone numbers.

209. The method of claim 207 further comprising identifying threats by receiving threat information, evaluating said threat information to identify a geographic area subject to a threat and in response generating said command identifying said geographic area and a warning related to the identified threat.

210. The method of claim 207 further comprising establishing a prioritization of communications identifiers using data, wherein said communications connections are established in a prioritized order.

211. The method of claim 207 further comprising identifying a location of a mobile device addressed by a communications identifier, and storing an association of said communications identifier with said location.

212. The method of claim 211 wherein a communications connection is established and a warning is delivered to a mobile device which has been identified in tracking information to be at a location which matches a geographic area identified in a command that identifies said warning.

225. The method of claim 207 further comprising responding to status information on previously executed commands in determining a manner of responding to a command.

213. A method for providing an atmospheric condition announcement to a plurality of persons and/or locations, comprising:

storing simultaneously at tandem locations a plurality of communications identifiers for persons and/or locations in need of atmospheric condition information, and storing an association of each said identifier with identifications of atmospheric condition information to be provided to those persons and/or locations,

responding at one or both of said tandem locations to a command identifying an atmospheric condition to be announced to said persons and/or locations, by analyzing stored identifications of atmospheric conditions to identify target persons and/or locations to be notified of said atmospheric condition, retrieving from said database, individual matching communications identifiers associated with said target persons and/or locations, and establishing a communications connection using each retrieved communications identifier and delivering an announcement of said atmospheric condition via said communications connection,

communicating and sharing information between the tandem locations regarding announcements to be provided by either of them,

wherein said analyzing and retrieving steps are performed after receipt of said command.

214. The method of claim 213 performed using a host computer and a telecommunication interface for receiving telephone numbers and audio messages from said host computer for delivery to said persons and/or locations.

215. The method of claim 213 further comprising identifying atmospheric events by receiving atmospheric event information, evaluating said atmospheric event information to identify persons and/or locations interested in an atmospheric event, and in response generating said command identifying said announcement related to the identified event.

216. The method of claim 213 further comprising establishing a prioritization of communications identifiers using stored data, wherein said communications connections are established in a prioritized order.

217. The method of claim 213 further comprising identifying a location of a mobile device addressed by a communications identifier, and storing an association of said communications identifier with said location.

218. The method of claim 217 wherein a communications connection is established and an announcement is delivered to a mobile device which has been identified in tracking information to be at a location which matches a geographic area identified in a command that identifies said announcement.

226. The method of claim 213 further comprising responding to status information on previously executed commands in determining a manner of responding to a command.

219. A method for providing time-sensitive announcements to a plurality of persons and/or locations, comprising:

storing simultaneously at tandem locations a plurality of communications identifiers, and storing an association of each communications identifier with data useful for determining whether particular time-sensitive information is to be communicated to said communications identifier,

responding at one or both of said tandem locations to a command identifying an announcement to be announced to interested persons and/or locations, by comparing said command to said data useful for determining whether particular time-sensitive information is to be-communicated to said persons and/or locations, retrieving individual matching communications identifiers associated with persons and/or locations to whom said time-sensitive announcement is to be communicated in response to the command, and establishing a communications connection using each retrieved communications identifier and delivering said time-sensitive announcement via said communications connection,

communicating and sharing information between the tandem locations regarding announcements to be provided by either of them,

wherein said comparing and retrieving steps are performed after receipt of said command.

220. The method of claim 219 performed utilizing a host computer and a telecommunication interface for receiving telephone numbers and audio messages from said host computer for delivery to said telephone numbers.

221. The method of claim 219 further comprising identifying event by receiving event information, evaluating said event information to identify communications identifiers for persons and/or locations interested in an event and in response generating said command identifying said announcement related to the identified event.

222. The method of claim 219 further comprising establishing a prioritization of communications identifiers using stored data, wherein said communications connections are established in a prioritized order.

223. The method of claim 219 further comprising identifying a location of a mobile device addressed by a communications identifier, and storing an association of said communications identifier with said location.

224. The method of claim 223 communications connection is established and an announcement is delivered to a mobile device which has been identified in tracking information to be at a location which matches a geographic area identified in a command that identifies said announcement.

227. The method of claim 219 further comprising responding to status information on previously executed commands in determining a manner of responding to a command.