Method to provide ad hoc and password protected digital and voice networks

• US 9,820,123 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGIS Software Development LLC (AGIS Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AGIS Software Development LLC (AGIS Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Beyer, Jr., Malcolm K., Rice, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Obayanju, Omoniyi
• Application Number:
  US15/255,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20170238158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• 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 4/08 : User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 : Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 : Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• 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 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 : User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 : multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 : Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 : for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 : for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method and system includes the ability for individuals to set up an ad hoc digital and voice network easily and rapidly to allow users to coordinate their activities by eliminating the need for pre-entry of data into a web or identifying others by name, phone numbers or email. This method is especially useful for police, fire fighters, military, first responders or other emergency situations for coordinating different organizations at the scene of a disaster to elevate conventional communication problems either up and down the chain of command or cross communication between different emergency units. The method and system provides that the users are only required to enter a specific Server IP address and an ad hoc event name, a password and perhaps the name of the particular unit.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

performing, by a first device;

receiving a message sent by a second device, wherein the message relates to joining a group;

based on receipt of the message sent by the second device, sending first location information to a first server and receiving second location information from the first server, the first location information comprising a location of the first device, the second location information comprising one or more locations of one or more respective second devices included in the group;

sending, from the first device to a second server, a request for georeferenced map data;

receiving, from the second server, the georeferenced map data;

presenting, via an interactive display of the first device, a georeferenced map and one or more user-selectable symbols corresponding to one or more of the second devices, wherein the symbols are positioned on the georeferenced map at respective positions corresponding to the locations of the second devices represented by the symbols, and wherein the georeferenced map data relate positions on the georeferenced map to spatial coordinates; and

identifying user interaction with the interactive display selecting a particular user-selectable symbol corresponding to a particular second device and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, using an Internet Protocol to send data to the particular second device,

wherein identifying the user interaction selecting the particular user-selectable symbol comprises;

detecting user selection of a portion of the interactive display corresponding to a position on the georeferenced map, and

identifying the particular user-selectable symbol based, at least in part, on coordinates of the selected position, comprising;

searching a set of symbols for a symbol located nearest to the coordinates of the selected position, wherein the set of symbols includes the user-selectable symbols corresponding to the second devices in the group, and wherein data associated with the set of symbols include coordinates of portions of the display corresponding to the symbols in the set, and

based on a result of searching the set of symbols, identifying the particular user-selectable symbol as the symbol located nearest to the coordinates of the selected position, wherein the particular user-selectable symbol corresponds to the particular second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data sent to the particular second device includes a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a text message, an image, or a video.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data sent to the particular second device includes a voice recording.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing, by the first device:

identifying user interaction with the interactive display selecting at least one of the user-selectable symbols corresponding to at least one of the second devices and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, initiating a phone call or phone conference with the at least one second device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing, by the first device:

identifying user interaction with the interactive display selecting the particular user-selectable symbol corresponding to the particular second device and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, initiating voice-over-IP (VOIP) communication with the particular second device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing, by the first device:

sending updated location information comprising an updated location of the first device, the updated location information being sent based on passage of a predetermined time interval since sending previous location information comprising a previous location of the first device, displacement of the first device by a predetermined distance relative to a previous location of the first device, or both.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing, by the first device:

using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver of the first device to obtain data indicative of the location of the first device,

wherein sending the first location information to the first server comprises using the Internet Protocol (IP) to send the first location information to the first server.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending first status information to the first server and receiving second status information from the first server, the first status information comprising a battery level of the first device, a signal strength of a wireless signal of the first device, a status of a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver of the first device, or a combination thereof, the second status information comprising one or more battery levels of the one or more respective second devices in the group, one or more signal strengths of wireless signals of the one or more respective second devices in the group, one or more statuses of GPS receivers of the one or more respective second devices in the group, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a personal computer (PC).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a smart phone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the map comprises a satellite image.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial coordinates comprise latitude and longitude coordinates.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the message sent by the second device is a Short Message Service (SMS) message or a text message.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the data sent to the particular second device is sent via the first server.

45. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises performing, by the first device:

receiving user input via user interaction with the interactive display of the first device, the user input specifying a location and a symbol corresponding to an entity other than the first device and the second devices in the group; and

based on the user input, adding the user-specified symbol to the interactive display at a position on the georeferenced map corresponding to the user-specified location of the entity.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising performing, by the first device:

transmitting the user-specified symbol and location of the entity to the one or more second devices in the group wherein each of the second devices in the group is configured to add the user-specified symbol to a respective interactive display of the second device on a respective georeferenced map at a respective position corresponding to the user-specified location of the entity.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the user input further specifies information associated with the entity, and wherein the method further comprises performing, by the first device:

transmitting the user-specified information associated with the entity to the one or more second devices in the group.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising performing by the first device:

adding data representing spatial coordinates of the location of the entity and data representing the information associated with the entity to a database of entities.

14. A computer-implemented method comprising:

performing, by a first device;

receiving a message sent by a second device, wherein the message relates to joining a group;

based on receipt of the message sent by the second device, sending first location information to a first server and receiving second location information from the first server, the first location information comprising a location of the first device, the second location information comprising one or more locations of one or more respective second devices included in the group;

sending, from the first device to a second server, a request for georeferenced map data;

receiving, from the second server, the georeferenced map data;

presenting, via an interactive display of the first device, a georeferenced map and one or more user-selectable symbols corresponding to one or more of the second devices, wherein the symbols are positioned on the georeferenced map at respective positions corresponding to the locations of the second devices represented by the symbols, and wherein the georeferenced map data relate positions on the georeferenced map to spatial coordinates; and

identifying user interaction with the interactive display selecting a particular user-selectable symbol corresponding to a particular second device and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, using an Internet Protocol to send data to the particular second device,

wherein identifying the user interaction selecting the particular user-selectable symbol comprises;

detecting user selection of a portion of the interactive display corresponding to a position on the georeferenced map,

based at least in part on coordinates of the selected position on the georeferenced map and on the georeferenced map data relating positions on the georeferenced map to spatial coordinates, determining spatial coordinates of a location represented by the selected position on the georeferenced map, and

identifying the particular user-selectable symbol based, at least in part, on the spatial coordinates represented by the selected position, and

wherein identifying the particular user-selectable symbol based, at least in part, on the spatial coordinates represented by the selected position comprises;

obtaining a result of a search of a database of entities for an entity located nearest to the spatial coordinates represented by the selected position, wherein the entities represented by data in the database include the second devices in the group, wherein the database data include locations of the respective entities, and wherein the database is searchable by location; and

based on the result of the search of the database, obtaining data identifying the particular second device as the entity located nearest to the spatial coordinates represented by the selected position, wherein the particular user-selectable symbol corresponds to the particular second device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the entity is a first entity, and wherein the method further comprises performing, by the first device:

receiving user input via user interaction with the interactive display of the first device, the user input specifying a location and a symbol corresponding to a second entity other than the first device and the second devices in the group; and

based on the user input, adding the user-specified symbol to the interactive display at a position on the georeferenced map corresponding to the user-specified location of the second entity.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising performing, by the first device:

transmitting the user-specified symbol and location of the second entity to the one or more second devices in the group wherein each of the second devices in the group is configured to add the user-specified symbol to a respective interactive display of the second device on a respective georeferenced map at a respective position corresponding to the user-specified location of the second entity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user input further specifies information associated with the second entity, and wherein the method further comprises performing, by the first device:

transmitting the user-specified information associated with the second entity to the one or more second devices in the group.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising performing by the first device:

adding data representing spatial coordinates of the location of the second entity and data representing the information associated with the second entity to the database.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the portion of the interactive display is a first portion, wherein the position of the particular symbol corresponding to the particular second device is a first position, and wherein receiving the user input specifying the location of the second entity comprises:

detecting user selection of a second portion of the interactive display corresponding to a second position on the georeferenced map; and

based at least in part on coordinates of the second position on the georeferenced map and on the georeferenced map data relating positions on the georeferenced map to spatial coordinates, determining spatial coordinates of a location represented by the second position on the georeferenced map, wherein the location represented by the second position is the location of the second entity.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the database is stored on the first device.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the database is stored on the first server or the second server.

23. A system comprising:

a first device programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving a message sent by a second device, wherein the message relates to joining a group;

based on receipt of the message sent by the second device, sending first location information to a first server and receiving second location information from the first server, the first location information comprising a location of the first device, the second location information comprising one or more locations of one or more respective second devices included in the group;

sending, from the first device to a second server, a request for georeferenced map data;

receiving, from the second server, the georeferenced map data;

presenting, via an interactive display of the first device, a georeferenced map and one or more user-selectable symbols corresponding to one or more of the second devices, wherein the symbols are positioned on the georeferenced map at respective positions corresponding to the locations of the second devices represented by the symbols, and wherein the georeferenced map data relate positions on the georeferenced map to spatial coordinates; and

identifying user interaction with the interactive display selecting a particular user-selectable symbol corresponding to a particular second device and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, using an Internet Protocol to send data to the particular second device,

wherein identifying the user interaction selecting the particular user-selectable symbol comprises;

detecting user selection of a portion of the interactive display corresponding to a position on the georeferenced map, and

identifying the particular user-selectable symbol based, at least in part, on coordinates of the selected position, comprising;

searching a set of symbols for a symbol located nearest to the coordinates of the selected position, wherein the set of symbols includes the user-selectable symbols corresponding to the second devices in the group, and wherein data associated with the set of symbols include coordinates of portions of the display corresponding to the symbols in the set, and

based on a result of searching the set of symbols, identifying the particular user-selectable symbol as the symbol located nearest to the coordinates of the selected position, wherein the particular user-selectable symbol corresponds to the particular second device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the data sent to the particular second device includes a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a text message, an image, or a video.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the data sent to the particular second device includes a voice recording.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying user interaction with the interactive display selecting at least one of the user-selectable symbols corresponding to at least one of the second devices and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, initiating a phone call or phone conference with the at least one second device.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying user interaction with the interactive display selecting the particular user-selectable symbol corresponding to the particular second device and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, initiating voice-over-IP (VOIP) communication with the particular second device.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the operations further comprise:

sending updated location information comprising an updated location of the first device, the updated location information being sent based on passage of a predetermined time interval since sending previous location information comprising a previous location of the first device, displacement of the first device by a predetermined distance relative to a previous location of the first device, or both.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the operations further comprise:

using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver of the first device to obtain data indicative of the location of the first device,

wherein sending the first location information to the first server comprises using the Internet Protocol (IP) to send the first location information to the first server.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the operations further comprise:

sending first status information to the first server and receiving second status information from the first server, the first status information comprising a battery level of the first device, a signal strength of a wireless signal of the first device, a status of a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver of the first device, or a combination thereof, the second status information comprising one or more battery levels of the one or more respective second devices in the group, one or more signal strengths of wireless signals of the one or more respective second devices in the group, one or more statuses of GPS receivers of the one or more respective second devices in the group, or a combination thereof.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the first device is a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a personal computer (PC).

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the first device is a smart phone.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the map comprises a satellite image.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the spatial coordinates comprise latitude and longitude coordinates.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein the message sent by the second device is a Short Message Service (SMS) message or a text message.

44. The system of claim 23, wherein the data sent to the particular second device is sent via the first server.

36. A system comprising:

a first device programmed to perform operations comprising;

receiving a message sent by a second device, wherein the message relates to joining a group;

based on receipt of the message sent by the second device, sending first location information to a first server and receiving second location information from the first server, the first location information comprising a location of the first device, the second location information comprising one or more locations of one or more respective second devices included in the group;

sending, from the first device to a second server, a request for georeferenced map data;

receiving, from the second server, the georeferenced map data;

presenting, via an interactive display of the first device, a georeferenced map and one or more user-selectable symbols corresponding to one or more of the second devices, wherein the symbols are positioned on the georeferenced map at respective positions corresponding to the locations of the second devices represented by the symbols, and wherein the georeferenced map data relate positions on the georeferenced map to spatial coordinates; and

identifying user interaction with the interactive display selecting a particular user-selectable symbol corresponding to a particular second device and user interaction with the display specifying an action and, based thereon, using an Internet Protocol to send data to the particular second device,

wherein identifying the user interaction selecting the particular user-selectable symbol comprises;

detecting user selection of a portion of the interactive display corresponding to a position on the georeferenced map,

based at least in part on coordinates of the selected position on the georeferenced map and on the georeferenced map data relating positions on the georeferenced map to spatial coordinates, determining spatial coordinates of a location represented by the selected position on the georeferenced map, and

identifying the particular user-selectable symbol based, at least in part, on the spatial coordinates represented by the selected position, and

wherein identifying the particular user-selectable symbol based, at least in part, on the spatial coordinates represented by the selected position comprises;

obtaining a result of a search of a database of entities for an entity located nearest to the spatial coordinates represented by the selected position, wherein the entities represented by data in the database include the second devices in the group, wherein the database data include locations of the respective entities, and wherein the database is searchable by location; and

based on the result of the search of the database, obtaining data identifying the particular second device as the entity located nearest to the spatial coordinates represented by the selected position, wherein the particular user-selectable symbol corresponds to the particular second device.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the entity is a first entity, and wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving user input via user interaction with the interactive display of the first device, the user input specifying a location and a symbol corresponding to a second entity other than the first device and the second devices in the group; and

based on the user input, adding the user-specified symbol to the interactive display at a position on the georeferenced map corresponding to the user-specified location of the second entity.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting the user-specified symbol and location of the second entity to the one or more second devices in the group wherein each of the second devices in the group is configured to add the user-specified symbol to a respective interactive display of the second device on a respective georeferenced map at a respective position corresponding to the user-specified location of the second entity.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the user input further specifies information associated with the second entity, and wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting the user-specified information associated with the second entity to the one or more second devices in the group.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the operations further comprise:

adding data representing spatial coordinates of the location of the second entity and data representing the information associated with the second entity to the database.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the portion of the interactive display is a first portion, wherein the position of the particular symbol corresponding to the particular second device is a first position, and wherein receiving the user input specifying the location of the second entity comprises:

detecting user selection of a second portion of the interactive display corresponding to a second position on the georeferenced map; and

based at least in part on coordinates of the second position on the georeferenced map and on the georeferenced map data relating positions on the georeferenced map to spatial coordinates, determining spatial coordinates of a location represented by the second position on the georeferenced map, wherein the location represented by the second position is the location of the second entity.

42. The system of claim 36, wherein the database is stored on the first device.

43. The system of claim 36, wherein the database is stored on the first server or the second server.