Security social network

• US 9,595,072 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fan, James, Chen, David, Kuo, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhang, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US12/963,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20120150966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,288 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/003 Signalling to neighbouring houses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A security social network allows registered members to participate in providing security. Persons can register and devices can be registered via a security social media web site. When a security event occurs, a member can notify the security social network, which can notify all registered members and registered devices in the area of the event. Mobile communication devices of members in the area can be controlled to turn on respective cameras, video recorders, audio recorders, microphones, or the like. And, remotely operable devices can be controlled to monitor, record, and/or transmit data. Collaboration of security social network members with private security agencies, law enforcement agencies, neighborhood watch groups, or the like, can provide comprehensive, timely, and effective security.

Claims

1. A network entity comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving a message indicative of being sent by a first registered member of a security social network, the security social network facilitating communications between registered members and registered devices for providing physical security and wherein the registered members have a common security interest with each other,

wherein the message comprises;

an expected region for the location of the first registered member during a time frame,

an expected return location of the first registered member at or before a first time associated with the time frame, and

an indication to the security social network to monitor the expected region;

determining a location of the first registered member based on the received message;

determining a region proximate to the determined location based on the received message;

selecting a plurality of registered members of the security social network within the region to be notified when the first registered member is not at the expected return location at or before the first time associated with the time frame; and

in response to the first registered member not at the expected return location at or before the first time,

determining a registered device that is registered with the security social network that is within the region;

providing control information for reception by the determined registered device that is registered with the security social network based on the received message; and

sending a notification to the selected plurality of registered members, wherein the notification comprises information from registered devices of the security social network.

2. The network entity of claim 1, wherein the registered device comprises a microphone.

3. The network entity of claim 2, wherein:

the registered device comprises at least one of a camera or a microphone.

4. The network entity of claim 1, wherein the information from registered devices comprises video, images, or audio.

5. The network entity of claim 1, wherein:

the message is indicative of an event pertaining to the first registered member sending the message; and

the notification is indicative of the event.

6. The network entity of claim 1, wherein:

a member of the security social network sent the message; and

the member of the security social network that sent the message is provided a credit for sending the message.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, by a server, a message indicative of being sent by a first registered member of a security social network, the security social network facilitating communications between registered members and registered devices for providing physical security and wherein the registered members have a common security interest with each other,

wherein the message comprises;

an expected region for the location of the first registered member during a time frame,

an expected return location of the first registered member at or before a first time associated with the time frame, and

an indication to the security social network to monitor the expected region;

determining, by the server, a location of the first registered member based on the received message;

determining, by the server, a region proximate to the determined location based on the received message;

selecting, by the server, a plurality of registered members of the security social network within the region to be notified when the first registered member is not at the expected return location at or before the first time associated with the time frame; and

in response to the first registered member not at the expected return location at or before the first time,

determining, by the server, a registered device that is registered with the security social network that is within the region;

providing control information for reception by the determined registered device that is registered with the security social network based on the received message; and

sending, by the server, a notification to the selected plurality of registered members, wherein the notification comprises information from registered devices of the security social network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the registered device comprises a microphone.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the registered device comprises at least one of a camera or a microphone.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the information from registered devices comprises video, images, or audio.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the message is indicative of an event pertaining to the first registered member sending the message; and

the notification is indicative of the event.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein:

a member of the security social network sent the message; and

the member of the security social network that sent the message is provided a credit for sending the message.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a computing device cause said computing device to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, a message indicative of being sent by a first registered member of a security social network, the security social network facilitating communications between registered members and registered devices for providing physical security and wherein the registered members have a common security interest with each other,

wherein the message comprises;

an expected region for the location of the first registered member during a time frame,

an expected return location of the first registered member at or before a first time associated with the time frame, and

an indication to the security social network to monitor the expected region;

determining, by the computing device, a location of the first registered member based on the received message;

determining, by the computing device, a region proximate to the determined location based on the received message;

selecting, by the computing device, a plurality of registered members of the security social network within the region to be notified when the first registered member is not at the expected return location at or before the first time associated with the time frame; and

in response to the first registered member not at the expected return location at or before the first time,

determining, by the computing device, a registered device that is registered with the security social network that is within the region;

providing control information for reception by the determined registered device that is registered with the security social network based on the received message; and

sending, by the computing device, a notification to the selected plurality of registered members, wherein the notification comprises information from registered devices of the security social network.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the registered device comprises a microphone.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

the registered device comprises at least one of a camera or a microphone.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the information from registered devices comprises video, images, or audio.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein:

the message is indicative of an event pertaining to the first registered member sending the message; and

the notification is indicative of the event.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein:

a member of the security social network sent the message; and

the member of the security social network that sent the message is provided a credit for sending the message.