Method for sharing information about obstructions in a pathway

• US 9,894,636 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin M. Habberfield
• Original Assignee: Kevin M. Habberfield
• Inventors: Habberfield, Kevin M
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US15/273,180
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141, 340435, 340439, 340472, 340479, 701532
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

A system and method for sharing information about obstructions in a pathway informs a user and members of a network about an obstruction in a pathway. A user or members of network observe and record the obstruction, and share the information in a database. The information can be in the form of global positioning system coordinates, comments, images, audible alerts, and anecdotes. A geographical database and a global positioning system operatively connect to a portable communication device of user to alert and notify about the obstruction and also, provide additional information the pathway. The user and members of the network may verify and add information about the obstruction, and then share this updated information with other members of the network. Further, a proprietor of the pathway is notified about the obstruction, so as to remove or repair the obstruction, or process cost estimates and for litigation and insurance purposes.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

observing, by at least one member of a network, an obstruction in a pathway, wherein a user is a a member of the network;

recording, by at least one member of the network, information about the obstruction, the recorded information including the location, type, and duration of the obstruction;

verifying the obstruction by members of the network;

sharing the recorded information about the obstruction with a database and members of the network;

detecting the position of the members of the network, relative to the pathway with a global positioning system;

notifying a proprietor of the pathway of the obstruction, wherein the proprietor is at least one of a landowner, a government entity, and other users in the network;

sharing the recorded information about the obstruction with a proprietor of the pathway; and

generating a receipt indicating that the proprietor is informed about the obstruction

providing a receipt to the proprietor for validating that the proprietor has been notified of the obstruction;

storing the receipt in a manner that is that is viewable and accessible by all parties for retrieval at a later time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of paying a fee to at least one of search the network and the database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pathway includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a road, a path, a park pathway, a bike trail, a hiking trail, a route, a tributary, and a channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the obstruction includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a physical blockage of the pathway, a hole in the pathway, uneven terrain on the pathway, a natural disaster proximal to the pathway, a wild animal proximal to the pathway, a prison escape proximal to the pathway, a traffic incident, smoke, toxic vapors, hazard, hazardous condition(s) and any general menace or danger to travelers on a pathway.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is a geographical database configured to store information about the pathway and proximal region of the pathway.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of notifying the user or the members of the network when the user or the members of the network are proximal to the obstruction, further comprises notifying with an audible signal, vibration, message, a text, an email, and a phone call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a social network, a website, society, home or condominium association, insurance company, litigants, a network of commuters, a vacationer network, a traveler network, a law enforcement network, and a first response network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the proprietor includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a land owner, a government entity, and any member of the network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is configured to be cloud based and accessible through the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is configured to be operable on a desktop operating system, website and a mobile operating system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is operable with a mobile communication device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is operatively connected to the mobile communication device.

13. A method comprising:

observing, first, by at least one member of a network, an obstruction in a pathway, wherein a user is a member of the network;

recording, second, by at least one member of the network, information about the obstruction, the recorded information including the location, type, and duration of the obstruction;

verifying, third, the obstruction by members of the network other than the user;

followed by sharing the recorded information about the obstruction with a database and members of the network;

detecting the position of the members of the network, relative to the pathway with a global positioning system;

notifying a proprietor of the pathway of the obstruction;

sharing the recorded information about the obstruction with a proprietor of the pathway; and

generating a receipt indicating that the proprietor is informed about the obstruction

providing a receipt to the proprietor for validating that the proprietor has been notified of the obstruction;

storing the receipt in a manner that is that is viewable and accessible by all parties for retrieval at a later time;

paying a fee to search the network, or the database, or both; and

providing a searchable database that can be used by litigants, users, owners, tenants, proprietors, insurance companies for providing the receipt or a certification that notice has been provided to the proprietor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method is operable with a mobile communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the database is operatively connected to the mobile communication device.

16. A non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method, the storage device comprising:

computer code for causing a machine to accept information relating to an observation, by at least one member of a network, an obstruction in a pathway wherein a user is a member of the network;

computer code for causing the machine to record information input into the machine by the at least one member of a network about the obstruction, the recorded information including the location, type, and duration of the obstruction;

computer code for causing the machine to verify with the at least one member of the network information about the obstruction;

computer code for causing the machine to share the recorded information about the obstruction with a database and the members of the network;

computer code for causing the machine to detect the position of the user or members of the network, relative to the pathway using a global positioning system;

computer code for causing the machine to share the recorded information about the obstruction with a proprietor of the pathway;

computer code for causing the machine to generate a receipt indicating that the proprietor is informed about the obstruction; and

computer code for allowing a member of the network to pay a fee to search the network, or the database, or both.