Alert system and method for geographic or natural disasters utilizing a telecommunications network

• US 6,914,525 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Far Eastone Telecommunications Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Far Eastone Telecommunications Company Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Yi-Chun, Chen, Chun-Kuang, Wu, Wen-Jong, Hsiao, Wen-Hsin, Chen, Yih-Fan, Lee, Chih-Kung, Hsu, Ching-Hsiang, Hung, Jung Nan, Rao, Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/286,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340/531, 340/539.26, 340/539.22, 340/539.13, 340/539.17, 340/601, 702/2, 702/3
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/005 with transmission via computer network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 with transmission via telephone network

Abstract

The invention advantageously provides an alert system and method for geographic or natural disasters that utilize a telecommunications network for monitoring geographic data in disaster-prone areas and accordingly issuing warnings against potential disasters to people inside the monitored area. An alert system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a telecommunications service network, one or more wireless sensor modules and a control center. The telecommunications network according to this particular embodiment includes service coverage over the monitored areas. The wireless sensor modules are installed to selected locations inside monitored areas. Each of the sensor modules further comprises at least one sensor for collecting geographic or geodetic data and a wireless communications unit for sending collected geographic data to the control center via the telecommunications network. The control center then receives and processes the monitored geographic or geodetic data sent by the wireless sensor modules for further algorithmic analysis. The control center accordingly issues alerts for imminent geographic or natural disasters if the processing of the geographic or geodetic data produces adverse results.

Claims

1. An alert system for monitoring disasters in at least one monitored area, the system comprising:

a telecommunications network having service coverage over said at least one monitored area;

at least one wireless sensor module provided at a selected location inside said at least one monitored area, each of said at least one module further comprising;

at least one sensor configured to collect geographic and geological data;

a microcontroller configured to convert the collected data into a suitable transmission format; and

a wireless communications unit configured to transmit said collected data in an unstructured supplementary service data transmission mode; and

a control center, implementing an alert control system including;

a data processing system configured to process said collected data from said at least one wireless sensor module to determine the likelihood of disaster; and

an alert and rescue management subsystem operable to issue a disaster alert signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications network is a Global System for Mobile communications network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said wireless sensor module further comprises a mobile communications device supporting Global System for Mobile communications service.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one alert issue station relaying said disaster alert throughout said at least one monitored area.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said telecommunications network further comprises a long-distance radio telecommunications system for providing communications coverage for said at least one monitored area.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one wireless sensor module further comprising photo interrupters, proximity switches, sliding switches, mercury switches, ultrasonic sensors and strain gauges.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said collected data further comprising water level, earth movement, position shifts, vibration and acceleration.

8. The system of claim 1, said at least one wireless sensor module further comprising a power supply providing operational power thereto.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sensory and communication control setting operating parameters for said at least one wireless sensor module and overseeing maintenance operations.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a decision and support subsystem setting processing priorities for said collected data.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a weather data receiving subsystem gathering weather information.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a database and web server subsystem.

15. The system claim 13, wherein said database and web service subsystem stores information comprising subscriber information to said alert system, location and total number of said at least one wireless sensor module, geographic and geological conditions of said at least one monitored area.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said database and web service subsystem hosts a web service allowing access to said alert system.

9. The system of claim further comprising:

a user interface; and

a geographic information system providing operating information for said alert system.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said operating information further comprising location of mudflow, geological conditions in said at least one monitored area, location of said at least one wireless sensor module.

17. A method for monitoring disasters in at least one geographic areas comprising:

providing communications coverage over said at least one monitored area with a telecommunications network;

providing at least one wireless sensor module in said at least one monitored area;

collecting geographic and geological data in said at least one monitored area;

transmitting said geographic and geological data in the form of unstructured supplementary service data transmission mode or general packet radio service transmission mode to a control center;

processing said collected data at a the control center;

determining a likelihood of disaster based on said collected data; and

issuing a disaster alert if the likelihood of disaster is determined to be relatively high.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said telecommunications network is a Global System for Mobile communications network.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising relaying said disaster alert throughout said at least one monitored area.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising relaying said collected data to said control center using a microcontroller connected to said at least one wireless sensor module.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said collected data further comprising water level, earth movement, position shifts, vibration and acceleration.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing operating information for said alert system using a geographic information system.

23. The method of claim 22, said operating information further comprising location of mudflow, geological conditions in said at least one monitored area, location of said at least one wireless sensor module.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising setting operating parameters for said at least one wireless sensor module and overseeing maintenance operations using a sensory and communication control.

25. The method of claim 17 further comprising gathering weather information using a weather data receiving subsystem.

26. The method of claim 17 further comprising setting processing priorities for said collected data.

27. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing subscriber information to said alert system, location and total number of said at least one wireless sensor module, geographic and geological conditions of said at least one monitored area in a database and web service subsystem.

28. The method of claim 17 further comprising hosting a web service for allowing access to said alert system.

29. An alert system for monitoring disasters in at least one monitored area, the system comprising:

a telecommunications network having service coverage over said at least one monitored area;

at least one wireless sensor module provided at a selected location inside said at least one monitored area, each of said at least one module further comprising;

at least one sensor configured to collect geographic and geological data;

a microcontroller configured to convert the collected data into a suitable transmission format; and

a wireless communications unit configured to transmit said collected data in a general packet radio service transmission mode; and

a control center, implementing an alert control system including;

a data processing system configured to process said collected data from said at least one wireless sensor module to determine the likelihood of disaster; and

an alert and rescue management subsystem operable to issue a disaster alert signal.