Abstract:
The present solution includes a method for reporting a status indicator using a mobile device during a disaster. In the method, a status indicator can be entered into a mobile communication device. The status indicator can he communicated to a disaster response system. The disaster response system can also automatically determine a location of the mobile communication device. The disaster response system can make the status indicator and the location available to concerned parties. The location and status indicators can be continuously updated for a duration of a disaster allowing the concerned parties to receive current information about subscribers. In one embodiment, a set of previously established actions associated with user developed disaster response plan can be initiated by the disaster response system.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to emergency communications and, more particularly, to emergency notification systems for mobile telephone users within a disaster region to quickly and efficiently convey situational status indicators to concerned parties. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Widespread disaster occurrences, such as hurricanes, floods, and terrorist attacks result in communication networks being disabled and/or saturated. A significant portion of the call volumes are associated with friends and loved ones communicating with others located within or proximate to a disaster region to determine whether those they care for are safe or are in need of assistance. The typical communications, which overload communication networks, are person to person voice communications, which consume a relative large amount of bandwidth of a telecommunications infrastructure. 
         [0005]    A few emergency contact centers and/or systems have been established in an attempt to assure loved ones in a manner less burdensome to a communication infrastructure. TextOK.com has established a server that allows users to register their mobile phone numbers and a set of contacts. When a text message of “OK” is sent to an established number, each contact in the established set is sent a message indicating that the registered user is alright. Other services permit a user to send an “OK” message to a centralized server, which others can contact to see whether the OK message has been sent that indicates the user is not in danger. 
         [0006]    All of these existing systems require that a user communicates with a messaging site, which may not be possible if communication networks are down or saturated or if a person is suffering as a result of a disaster. Further, concerned parties are provided with no information other than a message or a lack of message for an unknown reason. Even if a concerned party desires to assist a disaster sufferer, they are not aware of where aid is to be rendered or what type of aid is needed. Moreover, a concerned party is not able to enlist assistance from rescue personnel, since a need is too uncertain. That is, the potential disaster sufferer may have forgotten to send an OK message during the chaotic period during or after a disaster. Another very realistic possibility is that a user in an affected area is unable to communicate out of a disaster region due to network saturation, mobile telephony device problems, or due to a mobile communication network being down. 
         [0007]    Another problem that occurs in the aftermath of a disaster relates to deployment of rescue personnel and properly targeting relief resources to areas having the greatest need. Recent disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina and the Sep. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks, illustrate that government agencies and public service organizations lack a means to assess areas and people in need of assistance immediately following a disaster. Aggravated hardships, increased injury, and loss of life can result from disaster sufferers not receiving timely aid. What is needed is a system that permits aid to be quickly targeted to those having the greatest need. What is also needed is a means for communicating situational status to concerned parties in a manner that conserves limited communication resources present after a disaster and that provides sufficient information to be helpful to those who wish to aid disaster sufferers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention discloses a solution for providing a situational status and a location of a subscriber potentially affected by a disaster to concerned parties. The situational status and location can be obtained by querying a centralized disaster response system, which is presumed to be outside a disaster region, thereby providing information to concerned parties without burdening a communication infrastructure of an affected area. In one arrangement the disaster response system can automatically initiate a set of preconfigured, subscriber configurable actions. Different actions can be initiated depending upon disaster type, subscriber location, a status indicator of a subscriber, and other parameters. 
         [0009]    More specifically, when a disaster is detected, mobile devices of subscribers can be queried for location and wireless connectivity by a centrally located disaster response system. When a subscriber is away from a disaster area, this information can be recorded and it can be presumed that the subscriber is alright. When a subscriber is proximate to a disaster area, the subscriber&#39;s device can be queried for a status indicator and for an optional user provided message. This status indicator and message can be provided at any time by the subscriber, who is not forced to fight for a communication connection with the disaster response system during a time where dedicated mobile communication channels can be difficult to obtain. Instead, a user can enter their status indicator and optional message, which is thereafter automatically conveyed to the disaster response system using either a polling or a pushing methodology. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, a special communication channel can be reserved for the disaster response system to obtain the situational status indicators and messages, which can consume relatively little bandwidth compared to voice communications. Further, when communications are intermittent, the disaster response system can automatically and repetitively query mobile devices for desired status information. When the disaster response system contacts a mobile device and no status information has been recorded, the system can record a location of the device and can prompt a user to enter status information. When a mobile device is unable to be contacted, the disaster response server can look-up a last known location of user and to ascertain whether mobile communications are down in that area. Further, a last known activity for the mobile device can be ascertained and compared against disaster related times. This can be an indicator of whether the mobile device was left uncharged, turned off, or unconnected due to some disaster independent reason. All of this information can be recorded and reported to concerned parties. 
         [0011]    In one contemplated scenario, the disaster response system can determine areas and/or subscribers in greatest need of relief based upon subscriber status indicators and subscriber locations. For example, if eighty percent of subscribers in a first region report a situational status indicator that the subscribers are in dire need of aid and if ninety percent of subscribers in a second region report that they are alright, then relief workers can be directed towards the first region. Further, location information of subscribers and messages relating to relief needs can be used to further focus disaster relief efforts. In one embodiment, media capabilities of mobile phones can be utilized for disaster assessment purposes. For instance, one or more subscribers can use a camera, a video capture feature, an audio capture feature, and the like of their mobile device to convey disaster details to the disaster response system. 
         [0012]    It should be noted that various aspects of the invention can be implemented as a program for controlling computing equipment to implement the functions described herein, or a program for enabling computing equipment to perform processes corresponding to the steps disclosed herein. This program may be provided by storing the program in a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or any other recording medium. The program can also be provided as a digitally encoded signal conveyed via a carrier wave. The described program can be a single program or can he implemented as multiple subprograms, each of which interact within a single computing device or interact in a distributed fashion across a network space. 
         [0013]    The method detailed herein can also be a method performed at least in part by a service agent and/or a machine manipulated by a service agent in response to a service request. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    There are shown in the drawings, embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a disaster response system for informing concerned parties of a situation status of subscribers, who may have been effected by a disaster. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a subscriber status reporting system configured for use during disasters. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method of one possible process that can be used by a disaster response system in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a chart showing a set of disaster response plans established for a subscriber and initiated by a disaster response system in accordance with an embodiment the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a disaster response system  100  for informing concerned parties  136  of a situation status of subscribers  130 - 134 , who may have been effected by a disaster. In system  100 , a disaster, such as a hurricane, flood, fire, tsunami, and the like can affect a disaster region  110 . The disaster region  110  can include multiple mobile communication zones  112 - 114  within which included subscribers  132 - 134  can communicate a status indicator, which indicates whether the subscriber  132 - 134  is alright or is in need of help due to the disaster. A location of each subscriber  130 - 134  can also be automatically obtained, through either a Global Position System (GPS) component or through triangulation based upon a relative position of a mobile device within a wireless mobile communication network. When a subscriber, such as subscriber  130 , is outside disaster region  110 , system  120  can assume that the subscriber  130  is alright and is not in need of disaster related assistance. 
         [0020]    Concerned parties  136  can communicate with the disaster response system  120  to obtain the status indicator and location of queried subscribers  132 - 134 . For example, a mother (e.g., concerned party  136 ) can contact the emergency response system  120  to determine whether her daughter (e.g., one of subscribers  130 - 134 ) is alright in the aftermath of a disaster, 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, data obtained from the subscribers  130 - 134  can be aggregated and used for disaster relief purposes. For example, subscribers  130 - 132  can predominately submit status indicators to server  120  indicating that they are alright while subscribers  134  can predominantly submit status indicators indicating that they are in need of assistance. The aggregated data can be reported to disaster relief workers and/or agencies to let these workers/agencies know that timely attention is needed for zone  114  associated with subscribers  134  but that other zones in region  110  appear to be in less need. In general, the aggregated data can help the relief workers and/or agencies determine a response order and/or to proportion relief resources based upon need. Specific locations of subscribers  130 - 134  in need of assistance can also be provided from system  120  to disaster relief workers/agencies along with any other relevant information. 
         [0022]    It should be appreciated that during a disaster, a communication infrastructure of a disaster region  110  can be crippled and/or saturated making communications into and out of region  110  difficult. The disaster response system  120  is designed to alleviate a portion of the burden place upon the communication infrastructure of region  110  by handling communications using resources outside the affected region  110 . 
         [0023]    For example, status indicators and locations of subscribers  132 - 134  can be exchanged between system  120  and concerned parties  136  using unaffected telecommunication resources. To ensure that the disaster response system  120  is external to region  110 , a series or cluster of linked communication resources can be geographically dispersed, shown by system elements  121 - 124 . Any elements, such as  124 , which are included in disaster region  110 , can be disabled for a particular disaster. Therefore, for the disaster region  110  shown in system  100 , the disaster response system  120  would actively utilize only system elements  121 - 123 . 
         [0024]    Various additional measures can be taken to ensure that subscribers  132 - 134  in region  110  are able to communicate with system  120 . In one embodiment, a communication channel of a mobile telephony system can be reserved specifically for communications between subscribers  130 - 134  and system  120 , which helps resolve network saturation issues. Reserving a communication channel for status information can have a relatively insignificant effect on an overall communication infrastructure as data exchanges consume relatively few resources. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, multiple communication/information transmission options can be established to enable subscribers  130 - 134  to communicate with system  120 . For example, mobile telephony and push-to-talk (PTT) channels of mobile devices can both be used for sending status indicators to system  120 . It is also contemplated that ad hoc networks can be dynamically established (i.e., through BLUETOOTH functionality of mobile telephones) to enable subscribers  130 - 134  to convey status and location information when wide area network (WAN) communications are unavailable. Local wireless data networks, such as WIMAX networks and WIFI networks can also be used for relaying status information to system  120 , when other communication channels are unavailable. Moreover, it is contemplated that relief workers can deploy communication access points, such as WIFI access points, for the purpose of receiving situation status information from areas that are otherwise disconnected from system  120 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a subscriber status reporting system  200  configured for use during disasters. In system  200 , a device  210  associated with a subscriber  214  can be linked to disaster response system  230  via network  250 . System  230  can be linked to server  240 , relief system  242 , and device  244  via network  252 . Device  244  can be a device associated with concerned party  246 . The various computing devices in system  200  can be associated with data stores  260 - 264  as shown. 
         [0027]    Software  212  on device  210  can permit subscriber  214  to report situation status information to system  230 . Interface  220  shows one contemplated reporting interface. Using interface  220 , a user can select a status indicator  222 , such as OK, NEED HELP, and IN CRITICAL NEED. In one configuration, an option indicating whether subscriber  214  can help others  229  can be included. 
         [0028]    Additionally, in one embodiment, a previously designed plan can be selectively initialized  224 . The plan can be one that was previously established with system  230 . For example, if subscriber  214  is a parent unable to pick-up a child due to the disaster, a previously designated party  246  can be tasked with the child&#39;s well being, whenever Plan A is selected. A message  226  entry option can also exist that permits the subscriber  214  to send a message detailing a situation to the system  230 . 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, options to utilize specialized sensors and/or components of the device  210  can be present in interface  220 . For example, options  228  can exist to utilize a built-in camera or video feature of the device  210  to send a picture or video of the post-disaster situation to system  230 . 
         [0030]    Communications between device  210  and system  230  can utilize a push and/or pull methodology. For example, device  210  can push data to system  230  over network  250 , or data can be pulled from device  210  by system  230 . When a network  250  connection is intermittent, repeated communication attempts, possibly using different communication channels, can be automatically performed until system  230  receives information from device  210 . 
         [0031]    In one arrangement, system  230  can combine data obtained from one or more devices  210  with information obtained from other sources, such as server  240 , in order to create a more comprehensive situation assessment. For example, server  240  can provide satellite images of a disaster region, which can be combined with a subscriber location so that a concerned party  246  is able to see not only a status indicator and a location for a subscriber  214 , but a picture of that area as well. Disaster response system  230  can convey data to one or more disaster relief systems  242 , which can provide assistance to needful subscribers  214 . 
         [0032]    Device  210  can be any computing device capable of communicating status and location information to system  230 . Device  210  can include a mobile telephone, a computer, a personal data assistant (PDA&#39;s), a two-way radio, a GPS device, a media player, an entertainment system, a wearable computing device, and the like. Different communication modes can be available to the device  210 , which can permit information to be shared over a personal area network (PAN) and/or a Wide Area Network (WAN). 
         [0033]    Networks  250  and  252  can include any hardware/software/and firmware necessary to convey digital content encoded within carrier waves. Digital content can be contained within analog or digital signals and conveyed though data or voice channels. Networks  250 - 252  can include network equipment, such as routers, data lines, hubs, and intermediary servers which together form a data or telephony network. Networks  250 - 252  can include mobile communication components, such as cellular communication towers, two-way radio transceiving components, and the like. 
         [0034]    Data stores  260 - 264  can each be a physical or virtual storage space configured to store digital information. Each of data stores  260 - 264  can be physically implemented within any type of hardware including, but not limited to, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, a digitally encoded plastic memory, a holographic memory, or any other recording medium. The data stores  260 - 264  can be a stand-alone storage unit as well as a storage unit formed from a plurality of physical devices. Additionally, information can be stored within each data store  260 - 264  in a variety of manners. For example, information can be stored within a database structure or can be stored within one or more files of a file storage system, where each file may or may not be indexed for information searching purposes. Further, data stores  260 - 264  can utilize one or more encryption mechanisms to protect stored information from unauthorized access. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method  300  of one possible process that can be used by a disaster response system in accordance with one embodiment of the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. Method  300  is provided for illustrative purposes and the invention is not to be construed as limited in this regard. 
         [0036]    The method can begin in step  305 , where a server can request location information from mobile devices. Corresponding database entries can be populated using this information. In step  310 , a determination can be made as to whether a disaster has occurred. If so, the method can proceed from step  310  to step  315 , where a determination can be made as to whether any subscribers have been affected by the disaster. This determination can be based on the location information of step  305 . One factor that, can be considered in step  315  is a quantity of subscribers who have manually activated an emergency response plan. That is, a subscriber having an unknown affected status that is proximately located to a set of other subscribers, who have each manually activated an emergency response plan, can be presumed to be affected by an emergency. Further, sufficient subscriber emergency plan activation in a given area can cause step  310  to be automatically evaluated as true for that area. If results of step  310  or step  315  are negative, then method can proceed to step  320 , where a check can he performed to determine if anyone issued an “Are You OK” request. If not, the method can wait for a specified period, as shown in step  325 , after which the method can repeat step  305 . 
         [0037]    If in step  315  one or more subscribers are affected by a disaster, the method can proceed to step  330 , where a disaster response system can determine whether conditions have been satisfied for a user defined plan. If so, programmatic actions associated with that plan can be initiated, as shown by step  332 . Otherwise, a set of default actions for the subscriber can be taken, as noted in step  334 . For example, a master contact can be contacted and informed of the status indicator and the location information of the mobile device. Other contacts associated with the subscriber can also be contacted. In another example, a Web site containing subscriber status information can be updated with the subscriber&#39;s status indicator and location. Concerned parties, such as family members, can be granted access to the Web site, through which they can look-up the last known location and situational status of the subscriber. 
         [0038]    An affirmative response for step  320  can lead to step  335 , as can completed steps  332  and  334 . In step  335 , a server of a disaster response system can request conditions for each affected or queried subscriber. In step  340 , a time-stamp response to each of these queries can be placed in a corresponding database entry. If no response is received within a predetermined time period, the response field can be populated with an “Unknown” indication. In step  345 , when all responses are determined, responses can be sent to each concerned party and/or to status reporting systems, such as the aforementioned Web site. 
         [0039]    In step  350 , a troubled subscriber timeout threshold can be checked. This threshold can be associated with potentially threatened subscribers, which includes users having an “Unknown” status and subscribers who set a status indicator to indicate that they were not alright. When the threshold is exceeded, the method can loop to step  335 , where the server can request condition information for the potentially threatened subscribers. In step  355 , a normal timeout threshold can be checked. When this threshold is exceeded, the method can loop back to step  310 , where the method can check to see if the disaster has ended, if not, status information for ail subscribers can be updated. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a chart  400  showing a set of disaster response plans established for a subscriber and initiated by a disaster response system in accordance with an embodiment the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. The chart  400  can, for example, represent the plans associated with plan element  224  of system  200 . Each plan is associated with a set of conditions, such as a disaster type, a subscriber location, a subscriber status, and the like. When these conditions occur, a set of predefined programmatic actions are automatically initiated. Different sub-elements of an overall plan can be selectively triggered or adjusted depending upon whether related conditions have occurred. 
         [0041]    For example, a rescue plan during a fire can specify that a closest relative to the fire is to assist children near the tire. Each of the plan specified relatives can be associated with a mobile telephony device having location determination capabilities. A disaster response system can determine which of the family members is closest to the fire by querying each device. The nearest device can then be contacted, its user apprised of the situation, and informed of their assigned duties regarding the children. 
         [0042]    The top level of chart  400  is a basic response system  410 . The response system  410  can be manually triggered by an authorized user or automatically triggered based upon a disaster being detected. Prepared response plans are shown in block  420 . These plans  420  can include Plan A for a fire at a house  430 , Plan B for a hurricane  440 , and Plan C for a terrorist attack  450 , 
         [0043]    When a fire at a house is detected  430 , a pre-determined emergency contact can be contacted  432 . If this contact is unavailable, a set of backup contacts can be iteratively contacted. One of the contacts can include a neighbor  434  proximate to the house. 
         [0044]    When a hurricane is detected  440 , a potentially different set of predetermined possible emergency contacts  442  can be notified. These contacts can include an out of state brother  444  and an out of state cousin  446 , 
         [0045]    When a terrorist attack is detected  450 , a predetermined contact set can be contacted  452 . Further a remote server  454 , such as an FBI server or a police server, can be provided all known information. 
         [0046]    Unplanned emergencies  460  can include an emergency auto accident  470 , a robbery  480 , and a flood  490 . During an auto accident  470  one or more friends  472 - 474  can be contacted. For a robbery  480 , a mother  482  and/or an aunt  484  can be notified of the situation. The mother  482  and/or aunt  484  can, for instance, be watching a business traveler&#39;s residence when he is away on a long trip. When a flood  490  occurs, an aunt  492  outside of a threat region can be contacted. 
         [0047]    The present invention may be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. 
         [0048]    The present invention also may be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. 
         [0049]    This invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.