Systems, methods and computer program products for communicating amber alerts to a mobile workforce

• US 7,142,892 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: May, Frank P., Dennis, Gary J., Page, James A., Ingman, Robert M., McDonald, Steven L., Deen, Billy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/388,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20040180683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 455/567, 455/411, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/001 Signalling to an emergency team, e.g. firemen
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2263 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Mobile workforce communication systems include a mobile workforce dispatch system that is configured to dispatch the mobile workforce to perform tasks, and wireless terminals that are carried by the mobile workforce and are configured to communicate with the mobile workforce dispatch system to allow the mobile workforce to respond to dispatches. The mobile workforce dispatch system is further configured to accept an AMBER alert notification and to broadcast a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that includes a description of an abductee and identification of a location of an abduction, to the wireless terminals, so that the mobile workforce can be apprised of an AMBER alert.

Claims

1. A mobile workforce communication system for a commercial business with a mobile sales and/or service workforce comprising:

a mobile workforce dispatch system that is configured to dispatch the mobile workforce of the commercial business to perform sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business; and

a plurality of wireless terminals that are carried by the mobile workforce of the commercial business and are configured to communicate with the mobile workforce dispatch system to allow the mobile workforce to respond to dispatches to perform the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

the mobile workforce dispatch system being further configured to accept an AMBER alert notification and to broadcast a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that comprises a description of an abductee and an identification of a location of an abduction, to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto so that the mobile workforce can be apprised of an AMBER alert while performing sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

wherein the mobile workforce dispatch system further comprises a mobile workforce website that is accessible by the mobile workforce to assist the mobile workforce in performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business,

wherein the mobile workforce AMBER alert message further comprises an identification of the mobile workforce website and wherein the mobile workforce website is further configured to allow the mobile workforce to access the mobile workforce website from the plurality of wireless terminals in response to the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.

2. A mobile workforce communication system according to claim 1 wherein the mobile workforce website is further configured to allow the mobile workforce to access the mobile workforce website using a wire connection from the plurality of wireless terminals in response to the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.

3. A mobile workforce communication system according to claim 1 wherein the additional information concerning the AMBER alert comprises an image of the abductee.

4. A mobile workforce communication system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of wireless terminals comprise wireless laptop computers configured for Internet access, that are configured to communicate bidirectionally with the mobile workforce dispatch system.

5. A mobile workforce communication system according to claim 1 wherein the mobile workforce dispatch system is configured to accept an AMBER alert notification that relates to a governmental jurisdiction and is further configured to broadcast a mobile workforce AMBER alert message only to selected ones of the plurality of wireless terminals that are located in the governmental jurisdiction.

6. A mobile workforce communication system according to claim 1 wherein the mobile workforce dispatch system is configured to accept an AMBER alert email message from a law enforcement authority and is further configured to convert the AMBER alert email message into the mobile workforce AMBER alert message.

7. A mobile workforce communication system according to claim 6 wherein the mobile workforce dispatch system includes a Technician Systems Monitoring Center (TSMC) and wherein the TSMC is configured to accept the AMBER alert email message from a law enforcement authority and is further configured to convert the AMBER alert email message into the mobile workforce AMBER alert message.

8. A mobile workforce communication system according to claim 1 wherein the mobile workforce dispatch system is further configured to accept an AMBER alert cancellation notification and to broadcast an AMBER alert cancellation message to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto.

9. A mobile workforce communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pagers that are carried by the mobile workforce and that are configured to receive paging codes from the mobile workforce dispatch system, the mobile workforce dispatch system being further configured to broadcast an AMBER alert paging code to the plurality of pagers in response to receipt of the AMBER alert notification.

10. A mobile workforce communication system according to claim 1 wherein the mobile workforce dispatch system comprises a dispatch system control center that is configured to accept an AMBER alert notification, a messaging system that is responsive to the dispatch control center to distribute the mobile workforce AMBER alert message and a mobile terminal gateway that is responsive to the messaging system to communicate the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to the plurality of wireless terminals.

11. A mobile workforce system for a commercial business having a mobile sales and/or service workforce comprising:

a mobile workforce communication system; and

a plurality of wireless terminals that are carried by the mobile workforce of the commercial business and are configured to communicate with the mobile workforce communication system, to allow the mobile workforce to perform sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

the mobile workforce communication system being further configured to accept an AMBER alert notification and to broadcast a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that comprises a description of an abductee and an identification of a location of an abduction, to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto so that the mobile workforce of the commercial business can be apprised of an AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

wherein the mobile workforce communication system further comprises a mobile workforce website that is accessible by the mobile workforce, wherein the mobile workforce AMBER alert message further comprises an identification of the mobile workforce website and wherein the mobile workforce website is further configured to allow the mobile workforce to access the mobile workforce website from the plurality of wireless terminals in response to the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business. configured to allow the mobile workforce to access the mobile workforce website from the plurality of wireless terminals in response to the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.

12. A mobile workforce system according to claim 11 wherein the additional information concerning the AMBER alert comprises an image of the abductee.

13. A mobile workforce system according to claim 11 wherein the mobile workforce communication system is configured to accept an AMBER alert notification that relates to a governmental jurisdiction and is further configured to broadcast a mobile workforce AMBER alert message only to selected ones of the plurality of wireless terminals that are located in the governmental jurisdiction.

14. A mobile workforce system according to claim 11 wherein the mobile workforce communication system is further configured to accept an AMBER alert cancellation notification and to broadcast an AMBER alert cancellation message to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto.

15. A mobile workforce wireless terminal for a mobile sales and/or service workforce of a commercial business comprising:

means for wirelessly communicating with a mobile workforce communication system of the commercial business to allow the mobile sales and/or service workforce of the commercial business to perform sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

means for receiving a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that comprises a description of an abductee and an identification of a location of an abduction, from the mobile workforce communication system so that the mobile workforce of the commercial business can be prised of an AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

means for accessing a mobile workforce website in response to receipt of the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.

16. A mobile workforce wireless terminal according to claim 15 wherein the means for accessing comprises means for accessing the mobile workforce website using a wire connection.

17. A mobile workforce wireless terminal according to claim 15 wherein the means for wirelessly communicating and the means for receiving are included in a wireless laptop computer.

18. A method of operating a mobile workforce communication system for a commercial business with a mobile sales and/or service workforce that includes a mobile workforce dispatch system that is configured to dispatch the mobile workforce of the commercial business to perform sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business and a plurality of wireless terminals that are carried by the mobile workforce of the commercial business and are configured to communicate with the mobile workforce dispatch system to allow the mobile workforce to respond to dispatches to perform the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business, the method comprising:

accepting an AMBER alert notification at the mobile workforce dispatch system; and

broadcasting a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that comprises a description of an abductee and an identification of a location of an abduction, to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto so that the mobile workforce can be apprise of an AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks forte commercial business;

wherein the mobile workforce dispatch system further comprises a mobile workforce website that is accessible by the mobile workforce to assist the mobile workforce in performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business,

wherein the mobile workforce AMBER alert message further comprises an identification of the mobile workforce website and wherein the method further comprises;

accessing the mobile workforce website from the plurality of wireless terminals in response to the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.

accessing the mobile workforce website from the plurality of wireless terminals in response to the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the additional information concerning the AMBER alert comprises an image of the abductee.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the accepting comprises accepting an AMBER alert notification that relates to a governmental jurisdiction, and

wherein the broadcasting comprises broadcasting a mobile workforce AMBER alert message only to selected ones of the plurality of wireless terminals that are located in the governmental jurisdicton.

21. A method according to claim 18 wherein the accepting comprises:

accepting an AMBER alert email message from a law enforcement authority; and

converting the AMBER alert email message into the mobile workforce AMBER alert message.

22. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

accepting an AMBER alert cancellation notification at the mobile workforce dispatch system; and

broadcasting an AMBER alert cancellation message to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto.

23. A method according to claim 18 further comprising:

broadcasting an AMBER alert paging code from the mobile workforce dispatch system to a plurality of pagers in response to receipt of the AMBER alert notification.

24. A method of operating a mobile workforce system for a mobile sales and/or service workforce of a commercial business that includes a mobile workforce communication system and a plurality of wireless terminals that are carried by the mobile workforce of the commercial business and are configured to communicate with the mobile workforce communication system to allow the mobile sales and/or service workforce of the commercial business to perform sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business, the method comprising:

accepting an AMBER alert notification at the mobile workforce communication system; and

broadcasting a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that comprises a description of an abductee and an identification of a location of an abduction, to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto so that the mobile workforce of the commercial business can be apprised of an AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

wherein the mobile workforce communication system further comprises a mobile workforce website that is accessible by the mobile workforce, wherein the mobile workforce AMBER alert message further comprises an identification of the mobile workforce website and wherein the method further comprises;

accessing the mobile workforce website from the plurality of wireless terminals in response to the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the additional information concerning the AMBER alert comprises an image of the abductee.

26. A method according to claim 24 wherein the accepting comprises accepting an AMBER alert notification that relates to a governmental jurisdiction and wherein the broadcasting comprises broadcasting a mobile workforce AMBER alert message only to selected ones of the plurality of wireless terminals that are located in the governmental jurisdiction.

27. A method according to claim 24 further comprising:

accepting an AMBER alert cancellation notification at the mobile workforce communication system; and

broadcasting an AMBER alert cancellation message to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto.

28. A method of operating a mobile workforce wireless terminal for a mobile sales and/or service workforce of a commercial business comprising:

wirelessly communicating with a mobile workforce communication system of the commercial business to allow the mobile sales and/or service workforce of the commercial business to perform sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business; and

receiving a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that comprises a description of an abductee and an identification of a location of an abduction, from the mobile workforce communication system so that the mobile workforce of the commercial business can be apprised of an AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

accessing a mobile workforce website in response to receipt of the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.

29. A computer program product that is configured to operate a mobile workforce communication system for a commercial business with a mobile sales and/or service workforce that includes a mobile workforce dispatch system that is configured to dispatch the mobile workforce of the commercial business to perform sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business and a plurality of wireless terminals that are carried by the mobile workforce and are configured to communicate with the mobile workforce dispatch system to allow the mobile workforce to respond to dispatches to perform the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business, the computer program product comprising computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to accept an AMBER alert notification at the mobile workforce dispatch system; and

computer-readable program code that is configured to broadcast a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that comprises a description of an abductee and an identification of a location of an abduction, to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto so that the mobile workforce can be apprised of an AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

wherein the mobile workforce dispatch system further comprises a mobile workforce website that is accessible by the mobile workforce to assist the mobile workforce in performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business,

wherein the mobile workforce AMBER alert message further comprises an identification of the mobile workforce website and wherein the computer program product further comprises;

computer-readable program code that is configured to access the mobile workforce website from the plurality of wireless terminals in response to the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.

30. A computer program product according to claim 29 wherein the additional information concerning the AMBER alert comprises an image of the abductee.

31. A computer program product according to claim 29 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to accept comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to accept an AMBER alert notification that relates to a governmental jurisdiction and wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to broadcast comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to broadcast a mobile workforce AMBER alert message only to selected ones of the plurality of wireless terminals that are located in the governmental jurisdiction.

32. A computer program product according to claim 29 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to accept comprises:

computer-readable program code that is configured to accept an AMBER alert email message from a law enforcement authority; and

computer-readable program code that is configured to convert the AMBER alert email message into the mobile workforce AMBER alert message.

33. A computer program product according to claim 29 further comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to accept an AMBER alert cancellation notification at the mobile workforce dispatch system; and

computer-readable program code that is configured to broadcast an AMBER alert cancellation message to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto.

34. A computer program product according to claim 29 further comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to broadcast an AMBER alert paging code from the mobile workforce dispatch system to a plurality of pagers in response to receipt of the AMBER alert notification.

35. A computer program product that is configured to operate a mobile workforce system for a commercial business with a mobile sales and/or service workforce that includes a mobile workforce communication system and a plurality of wireless terminals that are carried by the mobile workforce of the commercial business and are configured to communicate with the mobile workforce communication system to allow the mobile workforce of the commercial business to perform sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business, the computer program product comprising computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to accept an AMBER alert notification at the mobile workforce communication system; and

computer-readable program code that is configured to broadcast a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that comprises a description of an abductee and an identification of a location of an abductions to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto so that the mobile workforce of the commercial business can be apprised of an AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

wherein the mobile workforce communication system further comprises a mobile workforce website that is accessible by the mobile workforce, wherein the mobile workforce AMBER alert message further comprises an identification of the mobile workforce website and wherein the computer program product further comprises;

computer-readable program code that is configured to access the mobile workforce website from the plurality of wireless terminals in response to the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.

36. A computer program product according to claim 35 wherein the additional information concerning the AMBER alert comprises an image of the abductee.

37. A computer program product according to claim 35 wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to accept comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to accept an AMBER alert notification that relates to a governmental jurisdiction and wherein the computer-readable program code that is configured to broadcast comprises computer-readable program code that is configured to broadcast a mobile workforce AMBER alert message only to selected ones of the plurality of wireless terminals that are located in the governmental jurisdiction.

38. A computer program product according to claim 35 further comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to accept an AMBER alert cancellation notification at the mobile workforce communication system; and

computer-readable program code that is configured to broadcast an AMBER alert cancellation message to the plurality of wireless terminals in response thereto.

39. A computer program product that is configured to operate a mobile workforce wireless terminal for a mobile sales and/or service workforce of a commercial business, the computer program product comprising computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile workforce communication system of the commercial business to allow the mobile sales and/or service workforce of the commercial business to perform sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

computer-readable program code that is configured to receive a mobile workforce AMBER alert message that comprises a description of an abductee and an identification of a location of an abduction from the mobile workforce communication system so that the mobile workforce of the commercial business can be apprised of an AMBER alert while performing the sales and/or service tasks for the commercial business;

computer-readable program code that is configured to access a mobile workforce website in response to receipt of the mobile workforce AMBER alert message to obtain additional information concerning the AMBER alert.