Abstract:
A volunteer network support group for people with disabilities. People who would like to assist people with disabilities may join a service and receive a wearable device or a palmtop that can communicate wirelessly through a network. People that join the volunteer network describe the type of disability they are willing/certified to assist with, available time and other relevant information. People with disabilities also join the volunteer service network and are provided with a wearable wireless device (i.e. Palm top). Disabled persons also specify their particular disability as well as services that they may require. An example of how these volunteers may be of use is: When a volunteer is gong to work in the morning on the train, the service can connect them through the network to a blind person, and the volunteer may assist the blind person by reading a newspaper through the wireless device (like a cellular telephone).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention generally relates to a network of portable, wireless communications devices and including plural databases. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Often times people need assistance when no professional help is available. For example, if someone on a train is hurt or in need of medical assistance, then a loudspeaker may announce that a doctor is needed. A similar scenario may occur on an airplane. This is an example of being able to help someone who is in obvious need of medical attention and people have noticed. Another example of people with disabilities receiving aid from people in their near surroundings is when a blind person is attempting to cross the street. In some instances, a passing stranger may assist the blind person in crossing the street safely. 
   These are examples of how people with disabilities may receive assistance from others in their environment. However, there are numerous other examples and scenarios where people in need of assistance do not receive any aid. It is necessary to set up a system where people with many types of disabilities can receive assistance from volunteers. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One object of the invention is to provide a business method for organizing volunteers for helping people with disabilities. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide technical means that support communication between volunteers and people with disabilities (PwD) through network. 
   Another object of the invention is a mechanism for choosing volunteers that match Pwd needs. 
   In accordance with this invention, people who would like to assist people with disabilities may join a service and receive a wearable device or a palmtop that can communicate wirelessly through a network. People that join the volunteer network describe the type of disability they are willing/certified to assist with, available time and other relevant information. People with disabilities also join the volunteer service network and are provided with a wearable wireless device (i.e. Palm top). Disabled persons also specify their particular disability as well as services that they may require. 
   An example of how these volunteers may be of use is: When a volunteer is going to work in the morning on the train, the service can connect them through the network to a blind person, and the volunteer may assist the blind person by reading a newspaper through the wireless device (like a cellular telephone). Another example is if a volunteer knows sign language and a hearing impaired person is in need of an interpreter, the audio of the conversation of the disabled person can be transmitted via the wireless device to the volunteer who can, in turn, translate into sign language and be visually depicted on a screen of the disabled person; or if the volunteer is nearby, they can send a signal to the hearing-impaired person that they will come and assist them as soon as possible. Global positioning may be used in order to assist in determining the positions of volunteers and disabled persons to provide more efficient and expedient assistance to people who are near to each other. 
   Another example is, if a person is unable to move (i.e. quadriplegic, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson&#39;s Disease, etc.) and needs some type of goods, whether clothing or food. This person may contact the Volunteer Network with a request, and the system can find a volunteer who is near or maybe even in the same building who can bring the requested item. If any prescriptions or medicines need to be delivered by somebody who is in the vicinity of another volunteer, the system can find them and request the two volunteers to cooperate in the retrieval and delivery of the medicines (or other goods). A more detailed description of the methodology and examples may be found in the detailed description of figures. 
   Further benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a general block diagram illustrating a network embodying this invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of a database of persons with disabilities. 
       FIG. 3  shows an example of a database of volunteers. 
       FIG. 4  describes a matching server that may be employed in the network of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  describes a cellular portable device that may be used in the network of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating a method of practicing this invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Module  100  in  FIG. 1  symbolizes the general network. People  103 ,  104  that carry the wireless/cellular device  108  are connected to the network  100 . The wireless device  108  may also transmit to another wireless device  108 . If there is a crowd of people  130  and the person  103  needs assistance but does not know where to go on street  140 , person  103  can send a signal to person  104  via the wireless devices  108  that help is needed. This signal from  108  to  108  is sent locally and not through the network because these people are not far from each other and the volunteer  104  receives the message via audio or beep/text. Because these people are not far from each other, volunteer  104  can notice the disabled person/person in need of assistance and walk/drive over and assist the person. 
   Another scenario for the implementation of this device is on a train  106  and there are two people with two devices, person  111  with device  109  and person  107  with device  109 , sitting in different parts of the train. If person  107  needs assistance with a conversation (a sign interpreter) the person sends a signal through the device  109  through a cellular provider  120  that sends a signal to the global positioning system  110  that notifies the person of the volunteer&#39;s location. The device  109  then sends this information to a local cellular provider that sends a signal to any volunteers on the train (that may know sign language) through their device  109  that may then come to the person in need of assistance  107  and translate for them. The network is connected to a database  101  that contains a description of all of the people with disabilities that are connected to the server  105 . A detailed description of the information on the database is given below. Another database of volunteers  102  is connected to the server  105  via the network  100 . The particulars of the volunteer database will be further discussed below. 
   The matching server  105  uses the information in database servers  101  and  102  to notify people with disabilities and volunteers what types of services it may offer. For example, the matching server may find some people who need a newspaper read to them because they are blind during a certain time. The matching server finds that there are volunteers available to assist the blind people (because they may be riding home from work on the train) and the server contacts the volunteers and asks them to read the newspaper/book or other information to the disable persons over the cellular phone. As in the previous example where person  111  can read a newspaper over the cellular phone to person in need of assistance  140  at home  150 . 
   There two different ways how people may find themselves. The global positioning system that finds the coordinates of people, where two people are connected to the network and they require assistance, they send a message through the network to two people who may be able to assist them and the global positioning system helps them find each other. 
   The GPS satellites are highly accurate atomic clocks. They broadcast their current time using extremely wide band signals. The receiver picks up the time from (at least) four satellites and measures the difference in arrival times from each. Because the satellites are at known coordinates in geosynchronous orbit, the differences in arrival time of the radio signals can be used to determine the distance the receiver is from each satellite. This is normally accurate to a few meters. However, the military perturbs the time signals using random noise to control the accuracy in what is known as “selective availability.” 
   There also exist D-GPS or differential GPS systems, in which case a fixed ground based transmitter sends its location and time to a D-GPS receiver. These systems send “corrections” to the time signals that are perturbed by the military. In so doing, the GPS accuracy can increase to a few meters. Using more advanced techniques, for stationary objects, it is possible to actually achieve accuracy in the centimeter range (essentially using a form of interferometry. In any case, there is no signal sent out from the GPS receivers. They know where they are relative to the GPS satellites, which are all in know spatial coordinates. 
   With reference again to  FIG. 1 , The matching server may also have access to information about routes and local maps in order to assist the users in finding each other. The matching server also has access to a disabled persons needs, addresses, necessary medications and other information from the database of people with needs and disabilities  101 . 
     FIG. 2  provides a detailed example of the database of people with disabilities  101 . Module  200  contains the name of the person with disabilities. Module  201  is a description of the person&#39;s needs. For instance,  201  may say that the person needs a newspaper read to them, medicine or groceries brought to them, or a conversation translated into sign/or other language. Module  202  notes the type of handicap—blind, hearing-impaired, paralyzed, etc. Module  203  gives a history of prior assistance and help that may guide future volunteers as well as for statistical information that can aid the matching server in creating more efficient and satisfactory service. The matching server can use this information to help plan outlines for assistance for future volunteers. Module  204  is a list of volunteers who helped the disabled person in the past which is connected to the history  203 , in order to find a volunteer with experience that is able to help quickly. Module  205  gives a description of methods of how to assist a disabled person. For instance, if a person needs a newspaper read to them, the system may describe a method for how a volunteer can read the newspaper over the phone; or, if a person needs to go to an office or receive information, then the system notes that the person requires an interpreter. 
     FIG. 3  is a detailed example of a database of volunteers  102 . Module  300  indicates the name of the volunteer. Module  301  describes the skills of the volunteers, for example—sign language or masseuse therapist. Module  302  gives a description of services that the volunteer could offer. Module  303  gives a history of people the volunteer has helped. This information assists the matching server in assembling a statistical history that aids optimizing volunteer assistance to people with disabilities. Module  304  gives a list of the people with disabilities that the volunteer has helped. Module  305  gives a list of expenses of the volunteer so they may be reimbursed or tax-deductible like a donation. 
     FIG. 4  is a detailed outline of the matching server  105 . The matching server receives input from the database of people with disabilities  101  and the database of volunteers  102 . The input goes into the communication module  402  in the matching server. The communication module is connected to the network and uses data from the databases in order to choose the correct volunteer that may assist a given person with disabilities. The communication module  402  also receives requests from the person with disabilities  400  through the network (wireless). When the communication module receives a request it contacts both of the database  101  and  102  and decides to which volunteers it can send messages. In other words, when the module chooses an appropriate number of volunteers and people with disabilities, this information enters into module  403 , the request processor. 
   From the moment a request from a person with disabilities comes in, the information goes into the request processor that processes the information of the person (names, needs, location  405 ). The location may be determined with a global positioning system through cellular devices. After a processor has determined the name of the person it does a search in volunteer database  404  to determine which volunteers have the functions that may assist the person with disabilities. It also retrieves an image of the person with disabilities in order to determine which type of people have already assisted the person. This information goes into the comparator  406  where volunteers with different functions, abilities, and certifications are compared as well as their locations with the people with disabilities: who helped who when, was it satisfactory? The comparator makes a candidate list  407  with names of volunteers, ranking of satisfaction of person with disabilities, ways they may serve the people with disabilities. At this point, there is the option to either send the message to several volunteers (if they are all on the same train they may all go to assist the person in need). The other option is to have a dialogue module  408  between the volunteer and the person with disabilities to find a good match. 
   The module  408  may send information about the location and nature of the problem to the volunteer and receive a response whether the volunteer wishes to assist the person. After several questions, the dialogue module and the comparator sends information into the final chooser which picks the best candidates and sends them a request to attend to the person with disabilities.  408  and  409  also check for a confirmation and turns off once one has been reached. If there is no confirmation received, a message is sent to another candidate. 
     FIG. 5  gives a detailed description of the cellular portable device that the persons with disabilities and volunteers carry in order to communicate. Module  500  is the communicator that communicates with the network. Module  501  is the cellular transmitter to send a signal to and from the user (information about helping). Module  502  receives and sends information by a Global positioning system reader through a satellite. Module  503  are the different means of input: keyboard, mouse, ASR, AHR. Module  504  is the output means Speaker, Display, and others, among them module  505  which is the GUI interface. The GUI interface allows for effective operation of the device. Additionally there is the option for map display, a clock and a beeper (announcing a message) in module  506 . 
     FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Module  600  is when the person with disabilities sends a request for help. In  601 , the matching server searches the people with disabilities and volunteers to find a list of candidates and methods of help. In module  602  (optional because can give coordinates), defines the locations via Global Positioning system. Module  603  sends a request to the list of candidates to treat locations. Module  604  is interacting with candidates to find the final choice. Module  605  sending final request and wait for conformation. Module  606  volunteers perform work to help people with disabilities after they have been chosen. 
   While it is apparent that the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects stated above, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and embodiments as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.