User-centric event reporting

• US 20050197775A1
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: User-Centric IP, L.P. (Locator IP LP)
• Original Assignee: User-Centric Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for receiving hazard and event information in a mobile unit and using that information to warn a user of an event or future hazard with reference to the mobile unit'"'"'s location and/or intended direction of travel. A hazard location algorithm compares a forecast location of each mobile unit with a forecast hazard and transmits a warning to each mobile unit that is predicted to encounter the hazard. As the mobile unit moves, its actual position is updated in an event center, and a revised warning is transmitted to the mobile unit as applicable. Warnings include audio warnings for playback and/or visual warnings for display on the mobile device. Users may also wirelessly report events or hazards to a central server in an event center by sending data to the event center via a wireless communications network. Secondary information may be included, based on the selected event type.

Claims

1. A computer-assisted method for providing information regarding an observed event, comprising:

(a) receiving an event type as user input into a mobile data processing device, said event type selected from a constrained set of event types displayed on said mobile data processing device;

(b) determining an event location in proximity to the mobile data processing device; and

(c) wirelessly sending from the mobile data processing device to an event center, the event type and the determined event location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the event type identifies a medical condition affecting a person.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the event location is determined based on a GPS-determined location of the mobile data processing device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein in step (b) the event location is determined based on a direction and a distance of the event from a current location of the mobile data processing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein in step (b) the event location is determined based on the GPS-determined location of the mobile device as offset by the direction and distance from the current location of the mobile data processing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein in step (b) the event location is automatically determined based on the GPS-determined location of the mobile device as offset by the direction and distance automatically determined by a compass and a distance calculator of the mobile device, respectively.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises a user navigating a hierarchy of categories and subcategories and selecting the event type in a last selected subcategory.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the hierarchy of categories comprises a medical category.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the mobile data processing device, at a location near which the event occurred, reading location information from an RFID tag.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the GPS-determined location of the mobile data processing device comprises an altitude.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) receiving confirmation from the event center that the event type and location were successfully transmitted

12. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

13. A method for providing information regarding an observed event, comprising:

(a) receiving from a mobile data processing device, computer readable data comprising information corresponding to an event visually observed by a user of the mobile data processing device, wherein said data includes a type of event, and includes a location of the event based on the location of the mobile data processing device, and wherein the type of event is selected from a constrained set of event types; and

(b) displaying on a display device a warning based on the received computer readable data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said data indicating the type of event indicates a medical condition affecting a person in proximity with the mobile data processing device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein in step (a) the received location of the event corresponds to a section of a venue.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein in step (a) the received location of the event corresponds to a row within the indicated section.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein in step (a) the received location of the event corresponds to a seat within the indicated row.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

(c) sending a confirmation to the mobile data processing device that the event type and location were successfully received.

19. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 13.

20. A handheld data processing device, comprising:

a transceiver for sending and receiving data to and from a wireless data communication network;

a display screen;

a processor for executing computer readable instructions stored in a memory of the handheld data processing device;

said memory storing the computer executable instructions, said computer executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform an event reporting method comprising steps of;

(a) determining a present location of the handheld data processing device;

(b) displaying on the display screen a geographic map oriented on the present location of the handheld data processing device;

(c) displaying a list of a plurality of event categories and receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of categories;

(d) receiving user input selecting an event in the selected category;

(e) receiving input identifying a location of the selected event based on the present location of the handheld data processing device;

(f) sending via the transceiver data corresponding to the selected event and identified location; and

(g) receiving confirmation that the data corresponding to the selected event and identified location were successfully received by an intended recipient.

21. The handheld device of claim 20, wherein the display screen comprises a touch-sensitive display screen, and step (e) comprises detecting a point on the map touched by a user.