Alerting method, apparatus, server, and system
First Claim
1. An alert servers, comprising:
- a processor, and a computer readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, form the following;
a security manager for authenticating an issuer of alerts and authorizing said issuer of alerts to issue an alert;
a user manager for keeping track of subscribers authenticated with the alert server for a communication session and maintaining a permanent secure connection with the alert server during the communication session; and
an alert managers, comprising;
i) a receiver unit for receiving requests to issue alerts from the issuer of alerts;
ii) a peer communications unit for notifying at least one other alert server of the alerts;
iii) a distribution unit for determining from a plurality of subscribers which of the plurality of subscribers are to receive the alerts; and
,iv) a transmitter unit for sending alert messages to the subscribers that are to receive the alerts.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An alert system for a communications network has a plurality of client devices and a plurality of alert servers each adapted to provide alerts to a respective subset of the client devices to provide scalability. Users at the client devices subscribe to receive alerts by selecting a scope of distribution of alerts. The selection involves selecting a type of alert to receive, a level of severity of alerts to receive, and a geographic scope. In response to receiving a request to issue an alert, an alert server notifies the other alert servers of the alert. Each alert server determines which client devices of the respective subset of client devices are to receive the alert. Each alert server then sends an alert message to its client devices that are to receive the alert.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An alert servers, comprising:
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a processor, and a computer readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, form the following; a security manager for authenticating an issuer of alerts and authorizing said issuer of alerts to issue an alert; a user manager for keeping track of subscribers authenticated with the alert server for a communication session and maintaining a permanent secure connection with the alert server during the communication session; and an alert managers, comprising; i) a receiver unit for receiving requests to issue alerts from the issuer of alerts; ii) a peer communications unit for notifying at least one other alert server of the alerts; iii) a distribution unit for determining from a plurality of subscribers which of the plurality of subscribers are to receive the alerts; and
,iv) a transmitter unit for sending alert messages to the subscribers that are to receive the alerts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for receiving alerts comprising:
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a) a registration handler having a processor and a memory containing program instructions executable by the processor for alerting, the registration handler comprising; i) an account creation unit for creating a user account with an alert server in response to receiving instructions to create the user account with the alert server; and
,ii) a subscription unit for subscribing with the alert server to receive alerts; b) a session registration unit for establishing a communication session with the alert server, including registering with the alert servers, establishing and maintaining a permanent connection with the alert server, and receiving alert messages during the communication session; and c) an alert handler for providing alerts in response to receiving the alert messages. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An alert system for a communications network, comprising:
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a plurality of client devices; a plurality of alert servers, each for providing alerts to a respective subset of the client devices in response to receiving requests to issue alerts; each alert server comprising a processor and a computer readable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereof, which, when executed by the processor, form the following; a security manager for authenticating an issuer of alerts and authorizing said issuer of alerts to issue an alert; a user manager for keeping track of subscribers authenticated with the alert server for a communication session and maintaining a permanent secure connection with the alert server during the communication session; and an alert manager, comprising; i) a receiver unit for receiving requests to issue alerts from the issuer of alerts; ii) a peer communications unit for notifying at least one other alert server of the alerts; iii) a distribution unit for determining from a plurality of subscribers which of the plurality of subscribers are to receive the alerts; and
,iv) a transmitter unit for sending alert messages to the subscribers that are to receive the alerts; v) a database for storing information on subscribers assigned to said each alert server.
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20. A method of alerting comprising:
by an alert server; (i) receiving requests to issue alerts from an authenticated issuer of alerts and authorizing said issuer of alerts to issue an alert; (ii) notifying at least one other alert server of the alerts; (iii) from a plurality of subscribers, determining which of the plurality of subscribers are to receive the alerts from the alert server; and
,(iv) for the subscribers who are to receive the alerts, keeping track of subscribers authenticated with the alert server for a communication session and maintaining a permanent secure connection with the alert server during the communication session; and v) sending alert messages only to the subscribers identified in the step (iv).
Specification