Providing information about mobile communication devices with respect to an area of interest

• US 8,947,225 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2011
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Best, Gregory C.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/020,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20120200411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.19, 340/539.1, 340/539.11
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A method and system for providing information about mobile communication devices with respect to an area of interest is disclosed. Initially, information about an event having an area of interest is received. A request is provided to one or more communications providers that cover the area of interest for a listing of any mobile communication devices located within the area of interest. The listing of any mobile communication devices located within the area of interest is utilized to establish an approximate number of persons in the area of interest.

Claims

1. A method for providing information about mobile communication devices with respect to an area of interest, said method comprising:

receiving information about an event having an area of interest;

providing a request to one or more communications providers that cover the area of interest for a listing of any mobile communication devices located within the area of interest; and

utilizing the listing of any mobile communication devices located within the area of interest to establish an approximate number of persons in the area of interest.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the request to one or more communications providers further comprises:

requesting a location of each mobile communication device within the area of interest.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a non-responsive broadcast message to each mobile communication device within the area of interest, the broadcast message including information selected from the group consisting of;

an instruction, an egress route, an action plan, a safety precaution, a gathering location, and event specific advice.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a request for user information to each mobile communication device within the area of interest, said request consisting of;

a user identity confirmation, a specific location, and a list of any other persons with a user.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a command to each mobile communications device within the area of interest to initiate location capabilities.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a command to each mobile communications device within the area of interest to activate WiFi to enable additional communications activities.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

including a safety margin border in an initial area of interest for said event.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

updating the area of interest for said event; and

generating a new request to the one or more communications providers for a listing of any mobile communication devices located within the updated area of interest.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at least one situational report from within the area of interest, said situational report consisting of event information selected from the group consisting of;

location, damage, structure issues, road conditions, and environmental conditions.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at least one status report from within the area of interest, said status report consisting of personal information selected from the group consisting of;

an injury information, a number of other people within the area of interest, a location of other people within the area of interest, a special need, an immediate need and a contact information for one or more other unaccounted for persons.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing one or more other sources of information with respect to the area of interest, said sources of information selected from the group consisting of;

Internet, a car based location service, AM/FM radio, television, satellite imagery, a web camera, a road camera, a security camera, a utility company, municipal services dispatch information and municipal vehicle cameras.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing any information sent from or to any mobile communications device within the area of interest; and

evaluating the information for additional event information.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a request to one or more communications providers that cover the area of interest boundary for a listing of any mobile communication devices approaching the area of interest; and

providing a warning message to each mobile communication device approaching the area of interest, the warning message selected from the group consisting of;

a detour, an approach-no-closer-than location, and egress information.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

instructing said communications providers to prioritize communication to said mobile devices located with the area of interest.

15. An event location configuration and messaging system comprising:

an area of interest establisher to establish an area of interest around an event;

a communication system and process to request a location of any mobile communication device located within the area of interest from one or more communications providers that cover the area of interest, said list incorporated in a database;

a mobile communication device location provider with access to the database, configured to obtain and provide the location of any mobile communication devices located within the area of interest; and

a message generator to generate a message based on said event and said area of interest around said event, said message provided via a communication module to said one or more communications providers for delivery to any said mobile communications device within the area of interest.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a mobile communication device location provider with access to the database, configured to obtain and provide the location of any mobile communication devices located within the area of interest.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein when said mobile communications device departs the area of interest an updated list that shows the mobile communications device is clear of the area of interest is provided.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said message generator generates a first message for any said mobile communications device in a first location and a second message for any said mobile communications device in a second location, said second message different from said first message.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said mobile communications device is selected from the group consisting of:

a mobile phone, a PDA, a smart phone, a NSS receiver, and a car based location service.

20. A method for providing information about an event in a location proximal to a subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device, said method comprising:

receiving information about an area of interest having an event therein;

generating a request to one or more communications providers for the location of said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device;

repeating said request for said location of said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device to determine a direction of travel;

comparing said location and said direction of travel of said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device with said area of interest to determine a relative relationship between said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device and said area of interest; and

if said relative relationship is within a predetermined range, providing a broadcast message to said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device, said broadcast message comprising information about said area of interest.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said event is selected from the group of events consisting of:

a fire, an accident, a road closure, a road repair, and a speed trap.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

including a buffer zone around said area of interest for said event to provide enough time for said broadcast message to be received prior to said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device entering said area of interest to be avoided.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

receiving a situational report about the area of interest, said situational report consisting of event information selected from the group consisting of;

location, damage, structure issues, road conditions, and environmental conditions;

updating the area of interest for said event based on said situational report; and

providing an updated broadcast message to said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

accessing one or more sources of information about the area of interest, said sources of information selected from the group consisting of;

Internet, a car based location service, a satellite imagery, a web camera, a road camera, a security camera, and a utility company;

updating the area of interest for said event based on said situational report; and

providing an updated broadcast message to said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

providing an alert action to said subscriber'"'"'s mobile device, said alert action selected from the group of alert actions consisting of;

an audible tone, a vibration, and a light signal.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

pre-registering emergency contact information about a subscriber for said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

providing an agreement to service for a subscriber as a stipulation of a carrier contract.

28. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

utilizing an opt-in format for said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device.

29. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

utilizing an opt-out format for said subscriber'"'"'s mobile communications device.