Personal safety check-in and follow-up system and method
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing the personal safety of a user, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a database having a capability to accept and store personal information from the user as a user profile, a capability to accept and store user-selected follow-up contact preferences including at least one follow-up contact preference period, a capability to establish a message box for the user, a capability to accept one check-in message from the user and store said check-in message in said message box, a capability to apply a contemporary date and time stamp to said check-in message when it is stored, a capability to accept user deletion of said check-in message, a capability to deny user deletion of said check-in message, a capability to age said check-in message by comparing elapsed time from said date and time stamp to said at least one follow-up contact preference period, a capability to send automated reminder messages, and a capability to prepare and send reports;
also providing at least one communication device adapted for user exchange of information with said database;
the user employing said at least one communication device to contact said database and provide personal information to said database;
said database storing said personal information as the user profile;
the user employing said at least one communication device to contact said database and provide follow-up contact preferences to said database, including at least one follow-up contact preference period;
said database storing an emergency contact preferences;
said database creating the message box for the user;
the user employing said at least one communication device to contact said database and provide said database with a user-created check-in message;
said database storing said check-in message in said message box created for the user and applying a contemporary date and time stamp to said check-in message when it is stored;
said database accepting said user deletion of said check-in message and thereafter allowing said user to create another check-in message; and
until acceptance of said user deletion step, said database aging said check-in message by comparing elapsed time from said date and time stamp to said at least one follow-up contact preference period, and when said elapsed time exceeds said at least one follow-up contact preference period, said database sending an automated reminder message to the user using said at least one communication device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated check-in and follow-up membership service, the use of which enhances personal safety. So long as membership is current, the system and method of the service allow a member to create, modify and digitally store member-entered information as a member profile, including specific follow-up contact preference periods. The service then provides the member space within a database in which to store a member-created check-in message, and, in the event timely check-in by the member does not occur, the service provides a series of automated follow-up based on the contact preferences pre-selected by the member. The service could ultimately provide a missing person'"'"'s report to an appropriate party on a member'"'"'s behalf, and the member profile information could be used by authorities as an additional tool when searching for a missing person.
21 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing the personal safety of a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a database having a capability to accept and store personal information from the user as a user profile, a capability to accept and store user-selected follow-up contact preferences including at least one follow-up contact preference period, a capability to establish a message box for the user, a capability to accept one check-in message from the user and store said check-in message in said message box, a capability to apply a contemporary date and time stamp to said check-in message when it is stored, a capability to accept user deletion of said check-in message, a capability to deny user deletion of said check-in message, a capability to age said check-in message by comparing elapsed time from said date and time stamp to said at least one follow-up contact preference period, a capability to send automated reminder messages, and a capability to prepare and send reports; also providing at least one communication device adapted for user exchange of information with said database; the user employing said at least one communication device to contact said database and provide personal information to said database; said database storing said personal information as the user profile; the user employing said at least one communication device to contact said database and provide follow-up contact preferences to said database, including at least one follow-up contact preference period; said database storing an emergency contact preferences; said database creating the message box for the user; the user employing said at least one communication device to contact said database and provide said database with a user-created check-in message; said database storing said check-in message in said message box created for the user and applying a contemporary date and time stamp to said check-in message when it is stored; said database accepting said user deletion of said check-in message and thereafter allowing said user to create another check-in message; and until acceptance of said user deletion step, said database aging said check-in message by comparing elapsed time from said date and time stamp to said at least one follow-up contact preference period, and when said elapsed time exceeds said at least one follow-up contact preference period, said database sending an automated reminder message to the user using said at least one communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A personal safety enhancing system comprising:
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a database having a capability to accept and store personal information from a user as a user profile, a capability to accept and store user-selected follow-up contact preferences including at least one follow-up contact preference period, a capability to establish a message box for the user, a capability to accept one check-in message from the user and store said check-in message in said message box, a capability to apply a contemporary date and time stamp to said check-in message when it is stored, a capability to accept user deletion of said check-in message, a capability to deny user deletion of said check-in message, a capability to age said check-in message by comparing elapsed time from said date and time stamp to said at least one follow-up contact preference period, a capability to send automated reminder messages, and a capability to prepare and send reports; and at least one communication device adapted for user exchange of information with said database wherein when the user employs said at least one communication device to contact said database and provide to said database personal information and follow-up contact preferences including at least one follow-up contact preference period, said database creates said message box for the user that stores said check-in message and assigns said check-in message said contemporary date and time stamp at the time of creation, and when the user does not delete said check-in message within said at least one follow-up contact preference period, said database sends an automated reminder message to the user using said at least one communication device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification