Amber alert system and method for locating missing children

• US 8,768,856 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Catalina Marketing Corporation
• Inventors: Simrell, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): PLUCINSKI, JAMISUE A
• Application Number:
  US11/153,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,302 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/325
• US Class Current: 705/325
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting

Abstract

A system and method for distributing information regarding a child abduction. More particularly, a system and method for distributing AMBER alert information via a computer system network to consumers at retail stores. AMBER alert distribution criteria is used to determine what retail stores to transmit the AMBER alert information to, and CID criteria is used to determine what consumers within those retail stores to transmit the information to. As time progresses the AMBER alert information is distributed to retail stores in a larger geographic scope.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for aiding in locating an abducted child comprising:

applying, using a computer, AMBER alert distribution decision criteria to corresponding data and AMBER alert information;

wherein said AMBER alert distribution decision criteria includes at least one of the following;

(1) consumer identification (CID), (2) product code, (3) product description, (4) product purchase price;

transmitting, from said computer, said AMBER alert information to addresses of computers at retail stores meeting said AMBER alert distribution decision criteria; and

printing said AMBER alert information at points of sale (POSs) at said retail stores in connection with consumer transactions in said retail stores to provide said AMBER alert information to consumers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said AMBER alert information comprises at least one of the following:

description of said child;

description of a suspect;

description of said suspect'"'"'s vehicle;

photograph of said child;

photograph of said suspect;

photograph of said suspect'"'"'s vehicle;

location of said abduction; and

time of said abduction.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said corresponding data comprises at least one of the following:

CID consumerID, product code, product description, and product purchase price; and

wherein said AMBER alert information includes at least one of the following;

description of child, description of suspect, description of suspect'"'"'s vehicle, picture of child, picture of suspect, picture of suspect'"'"'s vehicle, location of abduction, time of abduction.

4. A computer implemented system for aiding in locating an abducted child comprising:

a central computer system for applying AMBER alert distribution decision criteria to corresponding data and AMBER alert information;

wherein said AMBER alert distribution decision criteria includes at least one of the following;

(1) consumer identification (CID), (2) product code, (3) product description, (4) product purchase price;

structure for transmitting said AMBER alert information to addresses of computers at retail stores meeting said AMBER alert distribution decision criteria; and

a printer for printing said information at points of sale (POSs) in said retail stores in connection with consumer transactions in said retail stores to provide said AMBER alert information to consumers at said POSs.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said AMBER alert information is stored by said central computer system and comprises at least one of the following:

description of said child;

description of a suspect;

description of said suspect'"'"'s vehicle;

photograph of said child;

photograph of said suspect;

photograph of said suspect'"'"'s vehicle;

location of said abduction; and

time of said abduction.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said corresponding data is stored by said central computer system and comprises at least one of the following:

consumer identification (CID), product code, product description, product purchase price; and

wherein said AMBER alert information is stored by said central computer system and comprises at least one of the following;

description of child, description of suspect, description of suspect'"'"'s vehicle, picture of child, picture of suspect, picture of suspect'"'"'s vehicle, location of abduction, time of abduction.

7. A computer implemented system for distributing AMBER alert information to consumers of retail stores, comprising:

a first computer system;

wherein said first computer system stores first AMBER alert distribution criteria and first corresponding data;

wherein said first computer system is structured to run a first AMBER alert distribution decision engine to generate a first AMBER alert distribution decision, by applying said first AMBER alert distribution criteria to at least part of said AMBER alert information and to at least part of said first corresponding data;

wherein said first AMBER alert distribution decision specifies at least both of (1) a network address associated with a retail store and (2) a consumer identification (CID) which is associated with said retail store;

output structure, for providing at a point of sale (POS) in said retail store, information to consumers; and

code instructing said output structure to present at said POS at least part of said AMBER alert information.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said first AMBER alert distribution criteria includes demographic data criteria.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said first AMBER alert distribution criteria includes transaction data criteria.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said first AMBER alert distribution criteria includes prior product purchase criteria.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said first AMBER alert distribution criteria includes at least one of the following:

(1) product code, (2) product description, (3) product purchase price.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said first computer system is associated with a retail store and said first AMBER alert distribution decision includes said CID.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein said output structure comprises a printer.

14. The system of claim 7 wherein said output structure comprises a video display device.

15. The system of claim 7 wherein said AMBER alert information comprises an image of a person.

16. The system of claim 7 wherein said AMBER alert information comprises time information.

17. The system of claim 7 wherein said AMBER alert information comprises geographic location information.

18. The system of claim 7 wherein said first AMBER alert distribution decision specifies increasing geographic distribution of AMBER alert information over time.

19. The system of claim 7 wherein:

said first computer is a central computer system;

further comprising a second computer system including said output structure;

said second computer system has associated therewith said network address and said retail store; and

network structure over which said first computer system can transmit data to said second computer system.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said second computer system is structured so that said output structure provides at least part of said AMBER alert information in real time when said CID is recognized by said second computer system.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said second computer system is a POS computer system.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein said second computer system is an incentive local computer system.

23. The system of claim 19 wherein said second computer system stores second AMBER alert distribution criteria and second corresponding data;

wherein said second computer system is structured to run a second AMBER alert distribution decision engine to generate a second AMBER alert distribution decision, by applying said second AMBER alert distribution criteria to at least part of said AMBER alert information and to at least one of the following;

(1) product code, (2) product description, (3) product purchase price.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said second AMBER alert distribution criteria includes demographic data criteria.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said second AMBER alert distribution criteria includes transaction data criteria.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein said second AMBER alert distribution criteria includes prior product purchase criteria.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein said second AMBER alert distribution criteria includes current product purchase criteria.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein said second AMBER alert distribution decision includes said CID.

29. A computer implemented method for distributing AMBER alert information to consumers of retail stores, comprising:

storing in a first computer system first AMBER alert distribution criteria and first corresponding data;

running in said first computer system a first AMBER alert distribution decision engine to generate a first AMBER alert distribution decision, by applying said first AMBER alert distribution criteria to at least part of said AMBER alert information and to at least part of said first corresponding data;

wherein said first AMBER alert distribution decision includes at least both of (1) a network address associated with a retail store and (2) a consumer identification (CID) associated with said retail store; and

providing, using output structure at a point of sale (POS) in said retail store, information to consumers; and

instructing said output structure to present at said POS at least part of said AMBER alert information.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein:

said first computer is a central computer system;

further comprising a second computer system including said output structure;

said second computer system has associated therewith said network address and said retail store; and

transmitting data over network structure from said first computer system to said second computer system.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising said output structure providing in real time at least part of said AMBER alert information when said CID is recognized by said second computer system.