All hazards information distribution method and system, and method of maintaining privacy of distributed all-hazards information

• US 8,190,758 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Brabec, Frantisek, Drescher, David Robert Munroe, Ingraham, Edward E. II, Park, Daniel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whipple, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US12/684,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20100115590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-225, 709/229, 726/4
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An information distribution method includes: gathering all-hazards information into an information exchange from a first information source; gathering all-hazards information into the information exchange from a second information source; distributing the all-hazards information from the information exchange to a first independently-controlled alert network; distributing the all-hazards information from the information exchange to a second independently-controlled alert network.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining privacy of distributed information, comprising:

receiving a determination that a first information source is publishable;

receiving a determination that a second information source is authorized-only;

receiving a determination that a third information source is approved-only;

offering a first subscriber a subscription to the first information source;

receiving a request for subscription to the first information source from the first subscriber;

accepting the request for subscription to the first information source from the first subscriber;

receiving authorization evidence from a second subscriber to the second information source;

offering the authorized second subscriber a subscription to the second information source;

receiving a request for subscription to the second information source from the second subscriber;

accepting the request for subscription to the second information source from the second subscriber;

offering a third subscriber a subscription to the third information source;

receiving a request for subscription to the third information source from the offered third subscriber;

transmitting to a provider of the third information source the request for subscription to the third information source;

receiving an approval of the request for subscription to the third information source from the provider;

accepting the approved request for subscription to the third information source;

receiving a first all-hazards information into an information exchange from the first information source;

receiving a second all-hazards information into the information exchange from the second information source;

receiving a third all-hazards information into the information exchange from the third information source;

distributing the first all-hazards information to the first subscriber;

distributing the second all-hazards information to the second subscriber; and

distributing the third all-hazards information to the third subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determinations are received from the providers of the information sources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authorization evidence includes an authorization code.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the authorization code is an alphanumeric authorization code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for subscription to the third information source includes identification information of the third subscriber.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting to a provider of the second information source the request for subscription to the second information source; and

receiving an approval of the request from the provider of the second information source,

wherein the accepted request for subscription to the second information source is an approved request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for subscription to the third information source comprises an application.