System and method for transmitting an alert

• US 8,886,924 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Ly, Sidney, Hazlehurst, Laurance N., Howard, Bruce S., Salour, Ali, Johnson, Karl L., Choi, Jai J., Thai, Anh-Thu N., Chen, Chen-En
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand, Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shayanfar, Ali
• Application Number:
  US13/297,226
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 713/150
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes

Abstract

An alert system may include an alert sender module, an alert routing module, an alert controller module, and an alert mechanism. The alert sender module may be configured to send an encrypted alert independent of an internet security firewall. The alert routing module may have a registry and may be configured to receive the encrypted alert and process the encrypted alert according to a security mechanism associated with the registry. The alert controller module may be configured to accept the encrypted alert from the alert routing module according to the security mechanism. The alert mechanism may be configured to be activated by the alert controller module.

Claims

1. An alert system, comprising:

an alert sender module configured to send an encrypted alert using a communication protocol that is not subject to restrictions associated with one or more internet security firewalls;

an alert routing module using a processor having a registry and being configured to receive the encrypted alert from the alert sender module regardless of the presence of the internet security firewall and process the encrypted alert according to a security mechanism associated with the registry;

an alert controller module having a processor configured to accept the encrypted alert from the alert routing module according to the security mechanism;

an alert mechanism having at least one alert device linked to the alert controller module;

the alert routing module configured to register in the registry a plurality of alert controller modules located at different locations, and select at least one alert controller module from the registry upon receiving the encrypted alert; and

the selected alert controller module configured to decrypt the encrypted alert and control an alert device in response to the decrypted alert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the security mechanism comprises:

an encryption key issued by the alert routing module to the alert controller module upon registration of the alert controller module with the registry; and

the alert controller module being configured to accept the encrypted alert if the encrypted alert is capable of being decrypted using the encryption key.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the communication protocol comprises at least one of the following;

email, text message, and web service.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the alert routing module is configured to collect historical data regarding a plurality of events associated with a corresponding plurality of the alerts; and

the alert routing module being configured to generate metrics of the events based upon the historical data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the alert controller module is configured to provide the alert routing module with at least one of the following;

a location of an alert device; and

a configuration of the alert device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the alert controller module is configured to determine a location of the alert device based on at least one of an internet protocol address and a media access control address.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the alert mechanism includes at least one alert device comprised of at least one of the following:

an alert display device;

a visual signal device; and

an audible signal device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the alert routing module is configured to scan the registry and request access to at least one available alert controller module.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the alert controller module is configured to limit acceptance of the encrypted alert to at least one of the following communication protocols;

email, text message, and web service.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the alert sender module includes a sender device configured to send the encrypted alert initiated by a sender for receipt by a recipient, the encrypted alert containing alert content regarding an event;

the alert routing module including an alert processor configured to receive the encrypted alert from the sender device and pass the encrypted alert to an alert mechanism agent;

the alert mechanism agent being communicatively coupled to an information logger for logging historical data associated with a plurality of the encrypted alerts;

the alert routing module functioning as a centralized alert cloud for registering a plurality of the alert controller modules located at different locations;

the alert controller module including an alert mechanism interface, an alert message abstraction layer communicatively coupled to the alert mechanism interface, an alert status feedback device communicatively coupled to the alert mechanism interface, and a device location broadcaster;

the alert mechanism interface being configured to receive the encrypted alert from the alert mechanism agent and decrypt the encrypted alert using am encryption key issued to the alert controller module by the registry;

the device location broadcaster being configured to provide location information to the registry regarding the location of the alert controller module and a plurality of alert devices linked to the alert controller module;

the alert message abstraction layer being configured to receive the decrypted alert from the alert mechanism interface and control at least one operating attribute of the alert devices;

the alert status feedback device being configured to indicate an event status of the event associated with the decrypted alert;

the alert devices being configured to receive the decrypted alert from the alert message abstraction layer; and

the alert device being activatable and controllable by the alert controller module and being configured to display the alert content associated with the decrypted alert.

11. A method of sending an alert, comprising the steps of:

registering in a registry a plurality of alert controller modules located at different locations;

sending an encrypted alert from an alert sender module using a communication protocol that is not subject to restrictions associated with one or more internet security firewalls using a computer and/or a communication device;

receiving, at an alert routing module, the encrypted alert from the alert sender module regardless of the presence of an internet security firewall;

selecting an alert controller module from the registry upon receiving the encrypted alert at the alert routing module;

decrypting, at the selected alert controller module, the encrypted alert according to a security mechanism associated with the registry; and

controlling, using the alert controller module, at least one alert device in response to the decrypted alert.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of registering the alert controller modules and decrypting the encrypted alert using the security mechanism includes:

issuing an encryption key to each one of the alert controller modules during registration of the alert controller modules; and

accepting, by at least one of the alert controller modules, the encrypted alert if the encrypted alert is capable of being decrypted using the encryption key.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

providing the alert routing module with at least one of the following;

a location of an alert device; and

a configuration of the alert device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

determining a location of the alert device based on at least one of an internet protocol address and a media access control address.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of selecting an alert controller module from the registry includes:

scanning the registry; and

requesting access to at least one available alert controller module.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

limiting acceptance of the encrypted alert to at least one of the following communication protocols;

email, text message, and web service.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

collecting historical data regarding a plurality of the encrypted alerts; and

generating metrics based on the historical data.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

providing an event status of the alert.