Early warning system for natural and manmade disasters

• US 6,169,476 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Disaster Warning Network, Inc.
• Original Assignee: John Patrick Flanagan
• Inventors: Flanagan, John Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/272,767
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.02, 340/690, 340/540, 364/421, 324/323, 324/344
• US Class Current: 340/286.02
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes

Abstract

An early warning system for all natural and manmade disasters to collect and analyze data in real time as disasters occur, and when necessary, transmit early warnings to cause mitigation responses to lessen the disaster impact on lives and property. The system detects disasters in real time and determines the type, magnitude, speed, direction, and the expected geographic area to be impacted. Early warnings are transmitted to a wide variety of microprocessor receiver/controllers embedded in commonly used consumer and commercial devices to create a universal standard for receiving warnings and allow both human and automated responses during disasters to greatly increase the effectiveness of the warnings to users. The system determines precise real time position and location coordinates as well as other types of current geographic information data for all mobile and stationary devices capable of receiving early warning signals. This allows the system to transmit directed early warnings to only those specific receivers or group of receivers that are in danger from a disaster as determined by the current location and geographic information for each receiver. The system minimizes false or unnecessary warnings and greatly increases a receiver'"'"'s confidence in the necessity to take effective mitigation actions during natural or manmade disasters. The system also provides emergency response instructions In a timelier manner to emergency response personnel in all areas prior to a disaster Impact to allow a higher quality emergency mitigation response.

Claims

1. An early warning system for natural and manmade disasters comprising:

a plurality of early warning receiver devices distributed over a wide area within a general population, and each having a receiver means for receiving early warning signals indicative of natural and manmade disasters;

a plurality of remote sensing, detection, and reporting sources, distributed over a wide area, and each having;

a means for acquiring data indicative of natural and manmade disasters, and

a transmitter means for transmitting said disaster data;

a central processing site for data analysis having;

a receiver for receiving the disaster data signals from said plurality of remote disaster data sources,

a geographic position database, and a means for continuous updating, containing a current geographic position for each said early warning receiver device,

a geographic information database, and a means for continuous updating, containing a plethora of current geographic information data based on said geographic position for each said early warning receiver device,

a computer having analysis means to determine if an early warning should be transmitted based on all said received data,

a computer having analysis means to determine which specific early warning receivers and geographic areas are to receive warnings based on analysis of all said data, and

a transmitter having means for transmitting early warning signals to;

any selected early warning receiver,

any group of selected early warning receivers, and

to all early warning receivers located in specific geographic areas, in imminent danger from a natural or manmade disaster based on said computer analysis of said disaster data, said geographic position database, and said geographic information database;

whereby only early warning receivers that are in actual danger from an imminent natural or manmade disaster will receive early warning signals to cause a preprogrammed mitigation response to reduce disaster effects to lives and property.

2. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of early warning receivers dispersed among an entire general population and each having a unique identification code and further having a global positioning system means to continuously update a geographic position for each device;

whereby said geographic position will be useful for a warning decision analysis determination by said early warning system during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

3. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of early warning receivers dispersed among an entire general population and each having a unique identification code and further having a triangulation positioning system using signal attenuation means to continuously update a geographic position for each device;

whereby said geographic position will be useful for a warning decision analysis determination by said early warning system during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

4. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 1 further comprising a geographic information database having a means to continuously update geographic information for each said early warning device based on said geographic position indicative of current altitude, terrain type, weather condition, and population density;

whereby said geographic information will be useful for a warning decision analysis determination by said early warning system during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

5. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 1 further comprising an array of cell relay transmitters distributed over a wide area and having means to receive said encoded early warning signals transmitted by said central processing site area warning transmitter;

and wherein each said cell relay transmitter comprises a means for transmitting said encoded early warning signals to selected early warning receivers;

whereby one or more selected early warning receivers will receive early warnings during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

6. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 1 further comprising an array of cell relay transmitters distributed over a wide area and having means to receive said encoded early warning signals transmitted by said central processing site area warning transmitter;

and wherein each said cell relay transmitter comprises a means for transmitting said early warning signals to all early warning receivers in the transmission range of the cell transmitter;

whereby all early warning receivers in the transmission range of the cell transmitter will receive early warnings during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

7. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 1 further comprising an orbiting satellite relay transmitter having means to receive said encoded early warning signals transmitted by said central processing site area warning transmitter;

and wherein each said orbiting satellite relay transmitter comprises a means for transmitting said encoded early warning signals to selected early warning receivers;

whereby one or more selected early warning receivers will receive early warnings during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence even if they are in remote areas or areas without cell transmitter abilities.

8. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of early warning receivers dispersed among an entire general population wherein said early warning devices comprise an embedded microprocessor controller having means for receiving said early warning signals and generating a preprogrammed mitigation response:

whereby said electrical devices will initiate a response to reduce impacts to lives or property during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

9. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 8 further comprising a plurality of early warning receivers dispersed among an entire general population wherein said early warning devices comprise an embedded microprocessor controller having means for activating and deactivating selected electrical devices:

whereby said electrical devices that have been left in an off position, are activated and turned on to allow receipt of said early warning signals during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

10. An early warning system for natural and manmade disasters comprising:

a plurality of emergency response early warning receiver devices with a unique identification code distributed over a wide area to emergency response personnel and offices, and each having a receiver means for receiving emergency response early warning instruction signals indicative of natural and manmade disasters;

a plurality of remote sensing, detection, and reporting sources, distributed over a wide area, and each having;

a means for acquiring data indicative of natural and manmade disasters, and

a transmitter means for transmitting said disaster data;

a central processing site for data analysis having;

a receiver for receiving the disaster data signals from said plurality of remote disaster data sources,

a geographic position database, and a means for continuous updating, containing a current geographic position for each said emergency response early warning receiver device,

a geographic information database, and a means for continuous updating, containing a plethora of current geographic information data based on said geographic position for each said emergency response early warning receiver device,

a computer having analysis means to determine if an early warning instruction signal should be transmitted based on all said received data,

a computer having analysis means to determine which specific emergency response early warning receivers are to receive warnings based on analysis of all said data, and

a transmitter having means for transmitting emergency response early warning instruction signals to;

any selected emergency response early warning receiver,

any group of selected emergency response early warning receivers, and

to all emergency response early warning receivers located in specific geographic areas,

in imminent danger from a natural or manmade disaster or whose emergency response services may be needed in another area based on said computer analysis of said disaster data, said geographic position database, and said geographic information database;

whereby the most appropriate emergency response early warning receivers as determined by the system will receive early warning response instructions during an imminent natural or manmade disaster, and allow a more effective mitigation response to reduce disaster effects to lives and property in that or other surrounding areas.

11. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 10 further comprising a plurality of emergency response early warning receivers dispersed among emergency response personnel and offices each having a unique identification code and further having a global positioning system means to continuously update a geographic position for each receiver device;

whereby said geographic position will be useful for a warning decision analysis determination by said early warning system during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

12. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 10 further comprising a plurality of emergency response early warning receivers dispersed among emergency response personnel and offices each having a unique identification code and further having a triangulation positioning system using signal attenuation means to continuously update a geographic position for each device;

whereby said geographic position will be useful for a warning decision analysis determination by said early warning system during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

13. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 10 further comprising a geographic information database having a means to continuously update geographic information for each said emergency response early warning device based on said geographic position indicative of current altitude, terrain type, weather condition, and population density;

whereby said geographic information will be useful for a warning decision analysis determination by said early warning system during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

14. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 10 further comprising an array of cell relay transmitters distributed over a wide area and having means to receive said encoded emergency response early warning signals transmitted by said central processing site area warning transmitter;

and wherein each said cell relay transmitter comprises a means for transmitting said encoded emergency response early warning signals to selected emergency response early warning receivers;

whereby one or more selected emergency response early warning receivers will receive emergency response early warnings during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.

15. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 10 further comprising an orbiting satellite relay transmitter having means to receive said encoded emergency response early warning signals transmitted by said central processing site area warning transmitter;

and wherein each said orbiting satellite relay transmitter comprises a means for transmitting said encoded emergency response early warning signals to selected emergency response early warning receivers;

whereby one or more selected emergency response early warning receivers will receive emergency response early warnings during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence even if they are in remote areas or areas without cell transmitter abilities.

16. The early warning system for natural and manmade disasters recited in claim 10 further comprising a plurality of emergency response early warning receivers dispersed among emergency response personnel and offices wherein said emergency response early warning devices comprise an embedded microprocessor controller having means for receiving said emergency response early warning instruction signals and generating a mitigation instruction response:

whereby said emergency response receiver devices will initiate an emergency response to reduce impacts to lives or property during a natural or manmade disaster occurrence.