System and method for coordinating an emergency response at a facility

• US 9,980,112 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Newby, Jonathon Christopher, Spencer, Richard W., Bailey, Corinthe Jennelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Cong
• Application Number:
  US15/359,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20180146351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041- 2, 4554561, 4554563, 455521
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for coordinating an emergency response at a facility. The system includes employee'"'"'s user devices (UDs), an employee database that stores employee metadata, a module that stores facilities metadata, and a server system that hosts an application that interfaces with the UDs and monitors their locations within the facility. When a trigger event occurs (e.g., request for help or evacuation order), the application can determine the location of at least a first UD of an employee and identification information for the employee based on employee metadata. Based on facilities metadata, the application can generate a floorplan that includes an icon that represents the location of the first UD within the facility and the identification information. Some of the employees are members of an emergency response team (ERT). The floorplan can be displayed at the ERT member'"'"'s UDs along with other information that helps ERT members coordinate the emergency response.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring, via an application, locations of user devices of employees that are located within a virtual boundary around a perimeter of a facility;

determining, in response to occurrence of a trigger event, a location of a first user device within the facility;

determining, from an employee management service that operates in conjunction with an employee database, identification information associated with an employee who is associated with the first user device;

generating, via the application working in conjunction with a facility space management module, a floorplan of a particular floor located within the facility, wherein the floorplan includes an icon that represents the location of the first user device and the identification information associated with the employee;

displaying, at each of a plurality of second user devices, the floorplan via a user interface of that second user device, wherein each of the second user devices is associated with a member of an emergency response team (ERT); and

coordinating a response by the members of the ERT based on inputs to the application via the members of the ERT.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the trigger event is receipt of an alert message from the first user device by the application, and further comprising:

generating the alert message in response to employee interaction with a user interface of the first user device, wherein the alert message indicates that the employee who is associated with the first user device has requested help from the ERT;

displaying a floorplan on the user interface of the first user device, wherein the floorplan includes;

the icon that represents the location of the first user device on the particular floor located within the facility, icons that represent locations of any exits on that particular floor of the facility, icons that represent locations of any emergency response equipment located on that particular floor of the facility, and icons that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility; and

continuously updating a position of the icon that represents the location of the first user device within the floorplan and positions of the icons within the floorplan that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the trigger event is receipt of an alert message by the application from the first user device, wherein the alert message indicates that the employee who is associated with the first user device has requested help from the ERT, wherein the alert message is generated in response to employee interaction with a user interface of the first user device, and further comprising:

upon receiving the alert message at each of the plurality of second user devices, presenting via a user interface an option to each member of the ERT to confirm whether that member wants to respond to a request for help from the employee who is associated with the first user device, wherein each member that confirms that member wants to respond to the request for help is an ERT responder-member;

for each ERT responder-member;

displaying a floorplan on a user interface of the second user device of that ERT responder-member, wherein the floorplan includes;

the icon that represents the location of the first user device on a particular floor located within the facility, icons that represent locations of any exits on that particular floor of the facility, icons that represent locations of any emergency response equipment located on that particular floor of the facility, and icons that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility; and

continuously updating a position of the icon that represents the location of the first user device within the floorplan and positions of the icons within the floorplan that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

displaying a role assignment screen on a user interface of the second user device of each ERT responder-member, wherein the role assignment screen prompts each ERT responder-member to select their role in responding to the request for help;

assigning each ERT responder-member a role in responding to the request for help based on a selection by that ERT responder-member via interaction with the role assignment screen;

generating, via the application, a plurality of entries each comprising the role of each ERT responder-member in responding to the request for help; and

publishing, via the application, the entries that describe the role of each ERT responder-member in a notifications feed page.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

publishing messages, via the application, in the notifications feed page, wherein the messages comprise;

any notifications regarding status of the employee or the ERT responder-members; and

any activity information about ERT responder-members involved in responding to this request for help.

6. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

publishing, via the application, messages in a group chat page, wherein the messages comprise;

any messages from the employee and the ERT responder-members.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining a location of a first user device within the facility;

further comprises;

determining the location of the first user device within the facility based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the first user device and floor information that indicates which floor of the facility the first user device is located on, wherein the floor information is determined by the application based on information from the first user device that identifies at least one beacon that has a known location within the facility.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the trigger event is receipt of an indicator by the application that indicates that employees are to evacuate the facility, and wherein determining further comprises:

determining, in response to occurrence of the trigger event, locations of a plurality of first user devices within the facility;

sending, via the application, an alert message that indicates that employees who are located in the facility are to be evacuated, wherein each of the employees is associated with one of the first user devices;

upon receiving the alert message at each of a plurality of second user devices, presenting via a user interface at each of the second user devices an option to each member of the ERT to confirm whether that member wants to respond to a request to help evacuate the facility, wherein each member that confirms that member wants to respond to the request is an ERT responder-member;

for each ERT responder-member;

displaying a floorplan on a user interface of the second user device of that ERT responder-member, wherein the floorplan includes;

icons that represent the locations of the first user devices on a particular floor located within the facility that is in proximity to that ERT responder-member, icons that represent locations of any exits on that particular floor of the facility, and icons that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility;

continuously updating, within the floorplan, positions of the icons that represent the locations of the first user devices and positions of the icons that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are still present on that particular floor of the facility;

generating, via the application in response to input from one of the ERT responder-members, a message that identifies a particular employee who has not evacuated in compliance with the evacuation order and that provides a location of that employee within the facility; and

sending the message to an emergency services responder who will be assisting with evacuation of the facility.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input from one of the ERT responder-members includes selecting an icon that identifies that particular employee via a user interface of the second user device associated with that ERT responder-member.

10. A server system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory comprises computer-executable instructions that are capable of execution by the processor, and that when executed by the processor, cause the server system to:

monitor locations of user devices of employees that have been determined to be located within a virtual boundary around a perimeter of a facility;

determine, in response to occurrence of a trigger event, a location of a first user device within the facility;

determine, based on employee metadata, identification information associated with an employee who is associated with the first user device;

generate, based on facilities metadata, a floorplan of a particular floor located within the facility, wherein the floorplan includes an icon that represents the location of the first user device on a particular floor located within the facility and the identification information associated with the employee, wherein the floorplan is displayed at a user interface of each of a plurality of second user devices associated with a member of an emergency response team (ERT);

coordinate a response by members of the ERT in response to inputs from the members of the ERT.

11. A server system according to claim 10, wherein the trigger event is receipt of an alert message from the first user device, wherein the alert message indicates that the employee who is associated with the first user device has requested help from the ERT, wherein the floorplan further includes:

icons that represent locations of any exits on that particular floor of the facility, icons that represent locations of any emergency response equipment located on that particular floor of the facility, and icons that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility, and

wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the server system to;

continuously update a position of the icon that represents the location of the first user device within the floorplan and positions of the icons within the floorplan that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility;

generate a notifications feed page that includes information regarding a role of each ERT responder-member in responding to the request for help, any notifications regarding status of the employee or the ERT responder-members; and

any activity information about ERT responder-members involved in responding to this request for help; and

generate a group chat page that publishes any messages from the employee and the ERT responder-members while the request for help is active.

12. A server system according to claim 10, wherein the trigger event is receipt of an indicator that indicates that employees are to evacuate the facility, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the server system to:

determine locations of a plurality of first user devices within the facility in response to occurrence of the trigger event, and send an alert message that indicates that employees who are located in the facility are to be evacuated, wherein each of the employees is associated with one of the first user devices, wherein the floorplan includes;

icons that represent the locations of each of the first user devices on a particular floor located within the facility that is in proximity to that ERT responder-member, icons that represent locations of any exits on that particular floor of the facility, icons that represent locations of any emergency response equipment located on that particular floor of the facility, and icons that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility;

continuously update a position of the icon that represents the location of the first user device within the floorplan and positions of the icons within the floorplan that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are still present on that particular floor of the facility;

generate, in response to selection of an icon that identifies that particular employee by one of the ERT responder-members, a message that identifies a particular employee who has not evacuated in compliance with the evacuation order and that provides a location of that employee within the facility; and

send the message to an emergency services responder who will be assisting with evacuation of the facility.

13. A system, comprising:

a plurality of user devices of employees, wherein the user devices comprise at least one first user device and second user devices is associated with a member of an emergency response team (ERT);

an employee database that stores employee metadata;

an employee management service that operates in conjunction with the employee database;

a facility space management module configurable to store facilities metadata;

a server system configurable to host an application configurable to interface with the plurality of user devices, wherein the application is configurable to;

monitor locations of user devices of employees that are located within a virtual boundary around a perimeter of a facility;

determine, in response to occurrence of a trigger event, a location of a first user device within the facility;

determine, based on employee metadata from provided from the employee management service, identification information associated with an employee who is associated with the first user device;

generate, based on facilities metadata from facility space management module, a floorplan of a particular floor located within the facility that includes an icon that represents the location of the first user device and the identification information associated with the employee; and

wherein each of the second user devices is configurable to display the floorplan via a user interface, and wherein the application is configurable to coordinate a response by the members of the ERT based on inputs to the application by the members of the ERT.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the trigger event is receipt of an alert message by the application from the first user device, wherein the alert message indicates that the employee who is associated with the first user device has requested help from the ERT, wherein the alert message is generated in response to employee interaction with a user interface of the first user device,

wherein the user interface of the first user device is configurable to display a floorplan that includes:

the icon that represents the location of the first user device on the particular floor located within the facility, icons that represent locations of any exits on that particular floor of the facility, icons that represent locations of any emergency response equipment located on that particular floor of the facility, and icons that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility, and

wherein the application is configurable to continuously update a position of the icon that represents the location of the first user device within the floorplan and positions of the icons within the floorplan that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility.

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein the trigger event is receipt of an alert message by the application from the first user device, wherein the alert message indicates that the employee who is associated with the first user device has requested help from the ERT, wherein the alert message is generated in response to employee interaction with a user interface of the first user device,

wherein each of the plurality of second user devices is configurable to:

present via a user interface, upon receiving the alert message, an option to each member of the ERT to confirm whether that member wants to respond to a request for help from the employee who is associated with the first user device, wherein each member that confirms that member wants to respond to the request for help is an ERT responder-member;

wherein each of the plurality of second user devices for each ERT responder-member is configurable to;

display, via the user interface of the second user device of that ERT responder-member, a floorplan that includes;

the icon that represents the location of the first user device on a particular floor located within the facility, icons that represent locations of any exits on that particular floor of the facility, icons that represent locations of any emergency response equipment located on that particular floor of the facility, and icons that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility; and

wherein the application is configurable to continuously update a position of the icon that represents the location of the first user device within the floorplan and positions of the icons within the floorplan that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of second user devices for each ERT responder-member is configurable to:

display, via the user interface of the second user device of that ERT responder-member, a role assignment screen on a user interface of the second user device of that ERT responder-member, wherein the role assignment screen prompts each ERT responder-member to select their role in responding to the request for help; and

wherein the application is configurable to;

assign each ERT responder-member a role in responding to the request for help based on a selection by that ERT responder-member via interaction with the role assignment screen;

generate a plurality of entries each comprising the role of each ERT responder-member; and

publish the entries that describe the role of each ERT responder-member in a notifications feed page.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the application is configurable to:

publish messages in the notifications feed page, wherein the messages comprise;

any notifications regarding status of the employee or the ERT responder-members; and

any activity information about ERT responder-members involved in responding to this request for help.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein the application is configurable to:

publish any messages from the employee and the ERT responder-members in a group chat page.

19. A system according to claim 13, wherein the application is configurable to:

determine the location of the first user device within the facility based on global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the first user device and floor information that indicates which floor of the facility the first user device is located on, wherein the floor information is determined by the application based on information from the first user device that identifies at least one beacon that has a known location within the facility.

20. A system according to claim 13, wherein the trigger event is receipt of an indicator by the application that indicates that employees are to evacuate the facility, and wherein the application is configurable to:

determine locations of a plurality of first user devices within the facility in response to occurrence of the trigger event, and send an alert message that indicates that employees who are located in the facility are to be evacuated, wherein each of the employees is associated with one of the first user devices;

wherein each of the plurality of second user devices is configurable to;

present via a user interface, upon receiving the alert message, an option to each member of the ERT to confirm whether that member wants to respond to a request for help evacuate the facility, wherein each member that confirms that member wants to respond to the request is an ERT responder-member;

wherein each of the plurality of second user devices for each ERT responder-member is configurable to;

display, via the user interface of the second user device of that ERT responder-member, a floorplan that includes;

icons that represent the locations of the first user devices on a particular floor located within the facility that is in proximity to that ERT responder-member, icons that represent locations of any exits on that particular floor of the facility, icons that represent locations of any emergency response equipment located on that particular floor of the facility, and icons that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are present on that particular floor of the facility; and

wherein the application is configurable to;

continuously update a position of the icon that represents the location of the first user device within the floorplan and positions of the icons within the floorplan that represent locations of the second user devices of any ERT responder-members who are still present on that particular floor of the facility; and

generate, in response to selection of an icon by one of the ERT responder-members, a message that identifies a particular employee who has not evacuated in compliance with the evacuation order and that provides a location of that employee within the facility; and

send the message to an emergency services responder who will be assisting with evacuation of the facility, wherein the icon identifies that particular employee via a user interface of the second user device associated with that ERT responder-member.