Incident response system

• US 9,342,976 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cognyte Technologies Israel Ltd. (Cognyte Software Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: The Israelife Foundation
• Inventors: Pfeffer, Anshel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): LITTLEJOHN JR, MANCIL H
• Application Number:
  US13/670,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20130065628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 340/501, 340/505, 340/506, 340/511, 340/525, 340/530, 340/539.11, 340/539.19, 340/285.06, 340/539.18, 340/245, 340/539.12, 340/573.1, 340/686.1, 340/539.26, 340/825.49, 340/573.6, 340/573.5, 340988-996, 340/568.1, 340 71- 76, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/521, 455/66.1, 455/569.1, 455/90.2, 701/220, 701/221, 701/300, 701400-541, 705/7, 705/9, 709/225, 379/37, 379/39, 379/45, 379/46
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method for responding to incidents includes receiving incident information corresponding to an incident at an incident location. An incident scenario is generated based at least in part on the incident information, where the incident scenario identifies a number of responders for responding to the incident. A responder is identified based at least in part on an incident effectiveness of the responder with respect to the incident, where the incident effectiveness is based at least in part on past performance of the responder. A request for assistance with the incident is sent to a mobile device of the responder.

Claims

1. A method for responding to an incident, the incident occurring at an incident location, the method comprising:

selecting a set of responders out of a database of responder profiles, wherein each responder of said set of responders is equipped with a mobile communication device which comprises at least a Global Positioning System (GPS) hardware unit and a wireless communication transmitter unit;

placing said set of responders in a ranked queue of responders allocated to said incident;

identifying a maximum arrival time required for effectively responding to the incident;

at an incident response system, receiving a current location of each responder of said set of responders, from the mobile communication device of each responder of said set of responders;

calculating an estimated time period that would be required for each candidate responder of said set of responders to arrive to said incident location by taking into account both (I) a driving distance between said incident location and a current location of each candidate responder, and also (II) traffic conditions received from a traffic database that provides up-to-date information regarding traffic at and around the incident location;

sending via a wireless communication transmitter a dispatch request only to mobile communication devices of responders whose estimated arrival time to the incident location, as calculated at said dispatching management system, is not greater than said maximum arrival time;

updating said ranked queue based on real-time information comprising at least (A) traffic conditions received from said traffic database that provides up-to-date information regarding traffic at and around the incident location, and (B) incoming updated information of weather conditions, and (C) whether or not a responder arrives to a geographic milestone that is located on his route to the incident location within a pre-estimated time period;

wherein the method is performed by said incident response system that comprises at least a memory unit to store code, a wireless communication transmitter unit to wirelessly transmit messages to said mobile communication devices, a wireless communication transmitter to wirelessly receive signals from said mobile communication devices, a hardware means to receive incoming weather updates, a hardware means to receive incoming traffic conditions updates, and a processor to execute said code.

2. An incident response system for responding to an incident, the incident occurring at an incident location, the incident response system comprising:

a processor configured to select a set of responders out of a database of responder profiles, wherein each responder of said set of responders is equipped with a mobile communication device which comprises at least a Global Positioning System (GPS) hardware unit and a wireless communication transmitter unit;

wherein the processor is configured to place said set of responders in a ranked queue of responders allocated to said incident;

wherein the processor is configured to identify a maximum arrival time required for effectively responding to the incident;

at said incident response system, a wireless communication receiver unit to receive a current location of each responder of said set of responders, from the mobile communication device of each responder of said set of responders;

wherein the processor is configured to calculate an estimated time period that would be required for each candidate responder of said set of responders to arrive to said incident location by taking into account both (I) a driving distance between said incident location and a current location of each candidate responder, and also (II) traffic conditions received by a receiver unit of said incident response system from a traffic database that provides up-to-date information regarding traffic at and around the incident location;

a wireless communication transmitter unit to send a dispatch request only to mobile communication devices of responders whose estimated arrival time to the incident location, as calculated by said processor at said incident response system, is not greater than said maximum arrival time;

wherein the processor is to update said ranked queue based on real-time information received by said wireless communication receiver unit comprising at least (A) traffic conditions received by said wireless communication receiver unit from said traffic database that provides up-to-date information regarding traffic at and around the incident location, and (B) incoming updated information of weather conditions, and (C) whether or not a responder arrives to a geographic milestone that is located on his route to the incident location within a pre-estimated time period;

wherein the incident response system comprises at least;

(A) a wireless communication transmitter unit to wirelessly transmit messages to said mobile communication devices, (B) said wireless communication receiver unit to wirelessly receive signals from said mobile communication devices, (C) a hardware-based unit to receive incoming weather updates, (D) a hardware-based unit to receive incoming traffic conditions updates, and (e) said processor of the dispatching system.

3. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless receiver unit to receive from a sensor associated with a vehicular airbag, a signal indicating deployment of said vehicular airbag;

a wireless transmitter unit to automatically notify to responders, that are located within a geographical vicinity, about the deployment of said vehicular airbag.

4. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless receiver unit to receive from a sensor associated with a vehicular airbag, a signal indicating deployment of said vehicular airbag;

a wireless communication receiver unit to receive from a vehicular Global Positioning System (GPS) component a signal indicating vehicular location;

a wireless communication transmitter unit to automatically notify to responders, that are located within a geographical vicinity, about the deployment of said vehicular airbag and about said vehicular location.

5. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless receiver to receive from a sensor associated with a pacemaker, a signal indicating a malfunction of said pacemaker;

a wireless communication transmitter unit to automatically notify to responders, that are located within a geographical vicinity, about the malfunction of said pacemaker.

6. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless communication receiver unit to receive, from a mobile communication device of a responder, a signal indicating a current location of said responder;

wherein the wireless communication receiver unit is to perform a receiving operation which comprises at least one of;

when the responder is immobile, receiving said signal once every X seconds;

when the responder moves, receiving said signal once every Y seconds;

when the responder is en route to the incident location, receiving said signal once every Z seconds.

7. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless communication receiver unit to receive, from a mobile communication device of a responder, a wireless signal indicating a current location of said responder;

wherein time intervals of receiving the wireless signal are modified by the wireless communication receiver unit based on the speed of movement of said responder.

8. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless communication receiver unit to receive, from a mobile communication device of a responder, a signal indicating a current location of said responder;

wherein time intervals of receiving said signal by the wireless communication receiver unit are reduced when said responder remains within a site, the site selected from the group consisting of;

a home of said responder, and a place of employment of said responder.

9. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless communication receiver unit to receive, from a mobile communication device of a responder, a signal indicating that the responder manually indicates through said mobile communication device of said responder that the responder is located near a pre-programmed location.

10. The incident response system of claim 2, wherein the processor and the incident response system are further configured to perform:

at least one day prior to occurrence of said incident, conducting by said processor a projected out-of-town survey by performing;

(a) at a wireless communication transmitter unit of said incident response system, dispatching to multiple mobile communication devices of respective multiple responders from said database, an inquiry of whether or not each responder intends to be out-of-town on a particular future date;

(b) at a wireless communication receiver unit of said incident response system, receiving multiple responses from said multiple mobile communication devices of said multiple responders, respectively;

(c) for each responder that responded that he intends to be out-of-town on said particular future date, updating by said processor the responders database to reflect that said responder intends to be out-of-town on said particular future date;

subsequently, when said incident occurs during said particular future date, performing by said processor;

selecting said set of responders out of said database of responder profiles, by including in said set of responders only responders that had not indicated in advance that they intend to be out-of-town on said particular future date.

11. The incident response system of claim 2, wherein the processor and the incident response system are further configured to perform:

at least one day prior to occurrence of said incident, conducting by said processor a projected-event survey by performing;

(a) at a wireless communication transmitter system of said incident response system, dispatching to multiple mobile communication devices of respective multiple responders from said database, an inquiry of whether or not each responder agrees to operate as a responder for a particular future event scheduled in advance for a particular future date;

(b) at a wireless communication receiver unit of said incident response system receiving multiple responses from multiple mobile communication devices of respective said multiple responders, respectively;

(c) for each responder that responded that he agrees, updating by said processor the responders database to reflect that said responder agreed to operate as a responder for said particular future event scheduled in advance for said particular future date;

subsequently, when said incident occurs during said particular future date, performing by said processor;

selecting said set of responders out of said database of responder profiles, by including in said set of responders only responders that had indicated in advance that they agree to operate as a responder for said particular future event that was scheduled in advance for said particular future date.

12. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless communication receiver unit to receive, prior to occurrence of said incident, from a mobile communication device of a particular responder, an indication that said particular responder agrees to be dispatched only if a dispatching system is unable to obtain a pre-defined number of responders to a particular type of future incidents;

a wireless communication transmitter unit to perform, upon occurrence of said incident, and only if said incident of is of said particular type, and only if said dispatching system is unable to obtain said pre-defined number of responders;

sending by said wireless communication transmitter unit an urgent dispatch notification to a mobile communication device of said particular responder requesting his arrival to said incident location.

13. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless communication receiver unit to receive, prior to occurrence of said incident, from a particular responder an indication that said particular responder has a particular type of fear;

wherein, upon occurrence of said incident;

(a) said processor is to determine whether or not said incident location or said incident have one or more characteristics that trigger said particular type of fear;

(b) said processor is to select a set of responders from said database, by excluding from the set said particular responder that had indicated that he has said particular type of fear, and by including in the set other responders that had not indicated having said particular type of fear.

14. The incident response system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured

update, prior to occurrence of said incident, the responders database to reflect, for each responder, (A) a dispatch-acceptance frequency indicating a responder-specific frequency at which each responder accepts dispatch requests, and (B) a dispatch-decline frequency indicating a responder-specific frequency at which each responder declines dispatch requests, and (C) a dispatch-ignore frequency indicating a responder-specific frequency at which each responder ignores dispatch requests;

wherein upon occurrence of said incident, the processor is to generate a ranked queue of responders, by taking into account the dispatch-acceptance frequency of each responder, the dispatch-decline frequency of each responder, and the dispatch-ignore frequency of each responder.

15. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a wireless communication receiver unit to receive, upon occurrence of said incident, one or more reports from one or more mobile communication devices of responders with regard to a performance of a particular responder during said incident;

wherein the processor is to calculate, based on said one or more reports, a level-of-authority of said particular responder;

wherein the processor, upon occurrence of a subsequent incident, is to generate a ranked queue of responders, by taking into account the level-of-authority that was calculated for said particular responder.

16. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

a dispatching system comprising a wireless communication receiver unit, to receive from a mobile communication device of a particular responder an acceptance response, indicating that said particular responder is on his way to said incident location;

at said dispatching system, said processor is to determine an expected milestone-reaching time for said particular responder, which indicates an estimated time at which said particular responder is expected to reach a particular geographical milestone on his way to the incident location;

wherein determining of the expected milestone-reaching time is performed by said processor by taking into account;

(A) a mode of transportation of said particular responder, and (B) current weather, and (C) current traffic, and (D) an ability of said particular responder to disobey traffic laws;

wherein said processor is to subsequently detect at said dispatching system, that said particular responder did not reach said particular geographical milestone within the expected milestone-reaching time; and

in response, a wireless communication transmitter unit of said incident response system is to send a dispatch request to mobile communication devices of one or more other responders from said database in accordance with a responder queue to ensure timely arrival of an adequate pre-defined number of responders to the incident location.

17. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

at a dispatching system, a wireless communication receiver unit to receive from a mobile communication device of a responder that arrived at the incident location, a communication signal indicating both (A) a type of incident event that is observed by said responder, and (B) a type of injury that is observed by said responder;

at the dispatching system, a wireless communication transmitter unit that based on said communication signal received from said responder, is to automatically send an a dispatch request to multiple responders, wherein a number and a type of said multiple responders are automatically determined by the dispatching system based on said type of incident and based on said type of injury.

18. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

at a dispatching system, said processor is to analyze data of past performance of responders, and said processor is to determine that a first particular responder has less experience than a second particular responder in handling incidents; and

said processor is further to determine that said first particular responder has less years of medical certification than said second particular responder;

at the dispatching system, said processor is to modify the ranked queue of responders by ranking said first particular responder lower in the ranked queue than said second particular responder.

19. The incident response system of claim 2, comprising:

at a dispatching system, said processor is to generate a ranked queue of responders that are to be dispatched in a ranked order to said incident; and

said processor is to generate a separate ranked queue of equipment items that are to be dispatched, through one or more other responders, in a ranked order to said incident;

at the dispatching system, said processor is to identify that said incident requires a particular equipment item, in addition to requiring one or more human responders;

a wireless communication transmitter unit to dispatch responders based on the ranked order reflected in the ranked queue of responders;

wherein said wireless communication transmitter unit is to dispatch said particular equipment item, through one or more other responders, based on the ranked order reflected in the ranked queue of equipment items.

20. The incident response system of claim 19,

wherein said processor is configured to generate the separate ranked queue of equipment items by taking into account at least:

a time period that passed since a last time that each equipment item was used or serviced.