Patent Publication Number: US-2011068915-A1

Title: Geocoded alert system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to alert systems. Specifically, the present invention relates to alert systems that transmit information based on geographic parameters of the alert. More specifically, the present invention relates to alert systems that transmit information to users based on geographic locations of the users. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Alert systems are commonly used to alert people of various events. An alert system typically has an event monitor that monitors conditions indicative of an event. Upon the occurrence of the event, the event monitor sends a signal to the alert system. The alert system then processes the signal and sends a communication to a user of the alert system. A common alert system is the home security system. In the home security system, motion sensors are placed throughout a home so as to detect a movement of a thing or person. If the motion sensors detect a movement, a signal (usually electronic) is sent to a system controller. Upon receipt of the signal, the system controller typically activates an audible alarm. 
     A common problem with alert systems is that one must be near the phone or home in order to receive a message about the alert. A message regarding the alert can be delivered when a person is not near the phone or home, and the person may not receive the message until it is too late to effectively react to the message. For example, if the burglar alarm of a home is activated and the homeowner is on vacation, a burglar can easily escape because the homeowner did not receive the message. If the homeowner were to receive the message on a mobile device, then the homeowner could immediately react, such as by calling the police. Thus, there is a need to immediately communicate alerts to people regardless of the user&#39;s geographic location. 
     Global positioning systems (GPS) are increasingly associated with numerous mobile devices. The GPS provided by the United States is a satellite navigation system that has a space segment, a control segment, and a user segment. Space vehicles (SV), i.e. space satellites, are used in the space segment. Each SV sends radio signals from space. There are many SVs orbiting the earth, and four are needed to compute a position. The control segment consists of control and tracking stations that are located around the world. The control segment controls the accuracy of the SVs. The user segment consists of GPS receivers and the users of such receivers. GPS receivers are included in many devices, such as mobile phones and other mobile devices. The GPS receiver receives the signals from the SVs and determines the geographic position of the device. Various other data can be calculated by the receiver, such as time and velocity. GPS receivers are increasingly incorporated into mobile devices; thus, GPS can be used to determine the location of the mobile device. The mobile devices can be configured to send wireless signals that communicate the position of the mobile device. In mobile communication devices, such as a mobile phone, the user of the mobile phone can instantly obtain his or her position using a GPS receiver. 
     When traveling from location to location, a person can be unknowingly exposed to many dangers, such as a chemical plant explosion, a fire, a tornado, an earthquake, and a major traffic accident. The time for reaction to these events is minimal and many people often encounter such events unexpectedly. Thus, there is a need for an alert system with the capability to alert people of sudden events that can account for the geographic location of people and the geographic area of the event. 
     Various patents have issued relating to GPS alert systems and methods. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,126,454, issued to Bulmer on Oct. 24, 2006, discloses a system for alerting the public regarding a criminal act. The system has law enforcements nodes that generate alerts related to a criminal or emergency issue and transmit the same to a central server. A central server system includes an administration workstation and database for receiving the alerts and creating broadcast messages. A broadcast system is associated with the central server for broadcasting an alert via a televised broadcast, internet transmission or satellite transmission. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,362,852, issued to Rodkey, et al. on Apr. 22, 2008, discloses a school-wide notification and response system utilizing an administrator interface to transmit a message from an administrator to contact devices for parents, employees, and students associated with a school. The system includes an interface with a translator, a “call me” feature, and a “call in” feature that enable a customer service representative to use the system to send a message to users. The system has a dynamic information database that includes parent, employee, and student contact data, priority information, and response data. The administrator initiates distribution of the message based upon grouping information, priority information, and the priority order. The message is transmitted through at least two industry-standard gateways simultaneously to selected group contact devices based upon priority information. Once the message is received by the contact devices, the contact devices then transmit a response through the industry standard gateways back to the dynamic information database. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,130,389, issued to Rodkey, et al. on Oct. 31, 2006, discloses a digital notification and response system that utilizes an administrator interface to transmit a message from an administrator to a user-contact device. The system has a dynamic information database that includes user-contact data, priority information, and response data. The administrator initiates distribution of the message based upon grouping information, priority information, and the priority order. The message is transmitted through at least two industry-standard gateways simultaneously to groups of user-contact devices based upon priority information. Once the message is received by the user contact device, the user contact device transmits a response through the industry standard gateways back to the dynamic information database. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,180,415, issued to Bankert, et al. on Feb. 20, 2007, discloses a safety/security system that has a central-control station and remote stations suitable for installation in residential and business buildings. The central-control station receives public emergency warnings, notifications, and advisories, and transmits alert messages to select remote stations based on geographic or other criteria. Each remote station includes an identifier, a visual display, a user interface, and electronics for receiving the alert message from the central control center, for processing the alert message to determine if the remote station is an intended recipient of the message by ascertaining if the alert message includes the remote station identifier, and, if the remote station is an intended recipient of the alert message, for utilizing the display to display information related to the alert message. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,051, issued to Mason, et al. on Apr. 1, 2003, discloses a system for inputting conventional emergency alert messages into a digital subscriber television system. The method allows existing emergency alert equipment to interface with the digital system equipment in the head-end of a digital subscriber television system. A unique identifier and the format of the digital emergency alert message allow the input of an emergency alert message and allow for a wide variety of optional data formats, system control options, and data storage options. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,531,850 and 7,046,140, issued to Adamczyk, et al. on Mar. 25, 2008, disclose a method of alerting a person to a situation. An alert signal is received from a mobile communication device in signal communication with a wireless communication system and an alert system. In response to the alert signal, a database of an alert service is accessed for information relating to the subscriber of the mobile communication device and for information relating to a contact list associated with the subscriber. Information is obtained from the wireless communication system relating to the location of the subscriber, and a communication is made to a member of the subscriber&#39;s contact list providing information relating to the subscriber and the situation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,518,506, issued to Lee, et al. on Apr. 14, 2009, discloses a security system that electrically communicates with a user device, especially via an e-mail transmitted over the internet. A security system interface receives a signal indicating an occurrence of an event, such as a fault or alarm condition, in a zone of the security system. A memory stores a user e-mail address associated with the security system and an address of a server. The server provides internet service, such as an ISP server. An e-mail generator transmits to the server an e-mail message based on the event. The communication node in such a system may be integrated with the control panel of the security system. The e-mail generator can transmit the e-mail using SMTP or other TCP/IP. An attachment of the e-mail, such as a picture or an audio or video file relevant to the event or the zone may be transmitted. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,091,852, issued to Mason, et al. on Aug. 15, 2006, discloses an emergency response personnel automated accountability system, also referred to as a Firefighter Automated Accountability System (FAAS). The FAAS supports automatic tracking of, and limited communications among, first responders including fire fighters, police offices, emergency medical personnel, and safety personnel. The FAAS increases situational awareness and safety of first-responder personnel by automatically providing position information as well as other sensor information. Components of the FAAS integrate wireless mesh networks with positioning and communication systems to support real-time tracking of and communications with emergency response personnel. The FAAS incident awareness system provides position and time information via Global Positioning System (GPS) and/or other positioning systems, and processed data from sensors to provide enhanced communications, command, and control capabilities to the first responders and incident command at the incident scene. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,423,538, issued to Gonzalez on Sep. 9, 2008, discloses a child alert system that uses radio transmitters and receivers to provide the location of a child, adult or object to which a transmitter unit of the system is attached. The transmitter unit includes a panic button for allowing the wearer of the transmitter unit to send a panic signal when they feel endangered. The system further includes signaling when the transmitter is submerged, when the vital signs of the wearer fall below a certain threshold, or when the transmitter is tampered or removed from the person. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,310,533, issued to Galetti on Dec. 18, 2007, discloses a method for a communication system that includes the steps of generating a message inquiry signal, and sending the message inquiry signal to a base station to determine if updated command messages are available from the base station. When updated command messages are available from the base station, the updated command messages are transmitted to the device. The device may then operate a text display using the updated command messages. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,962, issued to Smith, et al. on Apr. 12, 2005, discloses a logistics method that provides logistics computer programming for controlling transports to supply delivery locations from one or more bases. Each of the bases and delivery locations are in communication with a central database (preferably an Internet server database) that contains updated logistics information. The central database is preferably automatically updated at selectable intervals as to transport location, destination, fuel level, speed, and heading. Manifests may be originated at the respective delivery location or at an associated base and are stored in the central database. Each material on the manifest is associated with information such as the authorized vendor, a description, storage preferences, units, hazardous designations, and additional information if the material is hazardous. Given information about each transport such load capacity, fuel level, location intelligence, and the like that is stored in the central database, and given information about materials, manifest status, and other factors, potential least cost delivery routes using capable transports can be automatically produced for selection by an operator. The logistics computer programming automatically designates where each manifested material is stored on the transport. The computer programming associates a status designation with each manifest such as outstanding, stages, printed, loaded, unloaded, and canceled. Each manifest is also associated with a priority which may range from emergency to routine. Updated logistics information concerning materials, manifests, vendors, transports, delivery locations, and operating companies is available from the central database. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,686, issued to Smith, et al. on Aug. 26, 2003, discloses a system, apparatus, and method for monitoring, tracking, and other logistics purposes that preferably includes a monitoring unit wherein data is processed using a microcontroller. The monitoring unit includes an interface with the target or asset to be tracked such that electrical signals may be sent between the target and monitoring unit to denote events from the target, e.g., air bag deployment and for activating features of the target, e.g., an alarm. The interface may be unique for each monitoring unit because unique information relating to each interface is stored in the system database, e.g., data may be related to a temperature in one unit and to a movement sensor indication in another. Therefore, the system may respond appropriately to signals having unique meanings from each different monitoring unit. A pager unit with a pager modem is controlled by the microcontroller to thereby encode the signals for transmission. A pager transmitter/receiver network is used for sending and receiving messages from the monitoring unit. The pager transmitter/receiver network is in communication with a server and the database. The server may be accessed by multiple clients over the Internet or other lines of communication so that the clients at numerous different remote locations may activate controls on their respective one or more remote targets/assets, find the locations thereof, and receive cumulative status reports. 
     Various patent applications have been published relating GPS alert systems and methods. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0,139,189, published to Helmig on Jun. 21, 2007, discloses a method, computer program product, and system for receiving a data signal from a transmitting device. The data signal is processed to determine if the data signal is a device data signal or a personal data signal. If the data signal is a device data signal, the device data signal is routed to a device monitoring system. If the data signal is a personal data signal, the personal data signal is routed to a personal monitoring system. The transmitting device can include a GPS receiver. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0,219,044, published to Douglass, et al. on Oct. 6, 2005, discloses a software system and associated method that implements real-time management of events such as emergencies, contingencies, and incidents by responding to user inputs and environmental detectors, carrying out defined and custom procedures, establishing communications channels with key personnel and emergency services, maintaining an audit trail of events, broadcasting appropriate instructions, tasks, and graphical information to personnel, and providing monitoring, recording, and communication facilities for local and/or remote coordinators and command centers. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0,088,437, published to Aninye, et al. on Apr. 17, 2008, discloses a monitoring system where alarm information and location data from a wireless personal tracking device carried by an individual is transmitted to an administrative hub for processing and action according to defined rules, including dispatching optimum assistance in the event of an alarm. Simultaneous monitoring of individuals with diverse tracking units and effective event recording and reporting can be implemented. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0,134,982, published to Robertson, et al. on May 28, 2009, discloses a system and method for providing an alert notification. A computer-readable storage medium according to one embodiment has instructions for configuring an alert text, configuring at least one audible alert instruction, and configuring at least one visible alert instruction. The computer-readable storage medium also has instructions for constructing an alert notification, and delivering the alert notification to at least one intended recipient device. The alert notification message includes the alert text, the audible alert instruction, and the visible alert instruction. 
     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0,038,360, published to Sakhpara on Feb. 15, 2007, discloses a system that includes a network server and mobile devices that communicate with the network server. Each mobile device is associated with a vehicle and is configured to provide Global Positioning System (GPS) parameters to the network server. The network server uses the GPS parameters to detect traffic congestion in a zone. 
     It is an object to send communications upon the occurrence of an alert. 
     It is another object to customize communication of alerts based on geographic area of the alert. 
     It is another object to customize communication of alerts based on geographic location of a receiver of the alert. 
     It is another object to provide an alert system where users can select which alert communications to receive. 
     It is still another object to provide an alert system where users can decide how to receive an alert communication. 
     It is another object to send messages regarding alerts to a communication device, such as a mobile phone, a personal computer, a pager, a telephone, etc. 
     It is another object to send messages by voice, video, SMS, streaming video, text-to-voice, and email. 
     It is another object to utilize a GPS associated with a communication device. 
     It is another object to immediately alert people upon the occurrence of an alert. 
     The objects and advantages of the invention are not limited to those disclosed above. These objects and advantages are made apparent by the specification and claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method for a geocoded alert system is described herein. The geocoded alert system has a memory associated therewith. 
     The method includes the steps of obtaining an alert from an information database, determining an applicable geographic area of the alert, acquiring a geographic location from a communication device, geocoding the geographic location into a geocoded location, ascertaining whether the geocoded location matches the applicable geographic area of the alert, sending a message to the communication device, confirming a preference to receive the alert, storing the geocoded location in a data store of the geocoded alert system, and retrieving the geocoded location from the data store when the alert is obtained. The communication device has a global positioning system associated therewith. The step of acquiring includes contacting the communication device, establishing the geographic location of the global positioning system of the communication device, and returning the geographic location from the communication device. The step of ascertaining includes geocoding the applicable geographic area of the alert into a geocoded area, and determining whether the geocoded location matches the geocoded area. The step of sending includes transmitting the message to the communication device of the user when the applicable geographic area of the alert matches the geographic location of the user. The step of transmitting includes transmitting the message to the communication device of the user when the alert is a preferred alert. The step of obtaining includes scanning the information database for the alert, and retrieving the alert from the information database. Alternatively, the step of obtaining includes receiving the alert from the information database. 
     The method alternatively includes the steps of obtaining an alert from an information database, determining an applicable geographic area of the alert, entering a geographic location by the user, geocoding the geographic location into a geocoded location, ascertaining whether the geocoded location matches the applicable geographic area of the alert, sending a message to a communication device of the user, and confirming a preference to receive the alert. The step of ascertaining includes geocoding the applicable geographic area of the alert into a geocoded area, and determining whether the geocoded location matches the geocoded area. The step of sending includes transmitting the message to the communication device of the user when the geocoded area matches the geocoded location. The step of sending further includes transmitting the message to the communication device of the user when the alert is a preferred alert. 
     The memory comprises an alert unit, a locating unit, a geocoding unit, an analyzing unit, a sending unit, and a preference unit. The alert unit obtains an alert that has an applicable geographic area. The locating unit obtains a geographic location of a communication device. The geocoding unit geocodes the applicable geographic area into a geocoded area. The geocoding unit also geocodes the geographic location into a geocoded location. The analyzing unit determines whether the geocoded location matches the geocoded area. The sending unit sends a message to a communication device when the geocoded location matches the geocoded area. The preference unit determines whether the alert is a preferred alert. When using the preference unit, the sending unit sends the message only if the alert is the preferred alert. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a data flow diagram illustrating the flow of data in the geocoded alert system of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of a memory for the geocoded alert system. 
         FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of the device of the geocoded alert system. 
         FIG. 4  shows a flow diagram for the method of alerting users of the geocoded alert system. 
         FIG. 5  shows a flow diagram for the step of ascertaining. 
         FIG. 6  shows a flow diagram for one embodiment of the step of obtaining. 
         FIG. 7  shows a flow diagram for another embodiment of the step of obtaining. 
         FIG. 8  shows a flow diagram for the step of sending. 
         FIG. 9  shows a flow diagram for an alternative method of alerting users of the geocoded alert system. 
         FIG. 10  shows a user interface for the preference unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a data flow diagram illustrating the flow of data in the geocoded alert system  100  of the invention. The flow of data in the geocoded alert system  100  is described in four general stages. In stage  1 , data of an alert flows from an information database  52  to the memory  12  of the system  100 . The information database  52  can be any sort of database or system that has geo-specific alerts available for the system  100  to obtain. An example of an information database  52  is a government database for tornado alerts. The term “alert” as used herein means information or data that identifies an event. The alert data flows from the information database  52  to the memory  12 . The memory  12  contains software for manipulating the alert, as is described in more detail in  FIG. 2  below. 
     In stage  2 , data flows between the data store  46  and the memory  12  of the system  100 . Data such as geographic locations and geocoded locations can flow from memory  12  to the data store  46 . These data can likewise flow from the data store  46  to the memory  12 . In stage  3 , data flows from the memory  12  to a communication device  54 . The communication device  54  can be any device that delivers a message of the alert to a user of the system  100 , such as a mobile phone, a personal computer, a television, a telephone, a pager, etc. The communication device  54  communicates a message of the system  100  by voice, email, text-to-voice, SMS, video images (e.g. streaming video), audio sounds, other similar methods of communication. The communication device  54  can have a global positioning system (GPS). For example, the communication device  54  can be a mobile phone with GPS capabilities. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a block diagram of a memory  12  used in the geocoded alert system  100  of the invention. The memory  12  stores data and/or instructions temporarily and/or permanently, and may comprise any suitable memory, such as random access memory (RAM) or a hard drive. The embodiment of the memory  12  shown in  FIG. 2  has an alert unit  14 , a geocoding unit  16 , a locating unit  18 , a preference unit  20 , an analyzing unit  22 , and a sending unit  24 . These units  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24  are exemplary of the desired functions of the memory  12 . Thus, the invention contemplates that units in the memory  12  can be combined or subdivided into other units so as to perform these specific functions. 
     The alert unit  14  obtains an alert and determines the applicable geographic area of the alert. The applicable geographic area is geocoded in the geocoding unit  16 . The locating unit  18  acquires a geographic location of a user of the system  100 . To acquire the geographic location, the locating unit  18  can contact the communication device  54  of the user, or the user can manually enter the geographic location into the system  100 . The geographic location of the user is geocoded in the geocoding unit  16 . 
     The preference unit  20  confirms preferences of a user of the system  100  to receive a given alert. For example, if a user of the system  100  chooses to receive alerts about child kidnappings but not about tornadoes, then the preference unit  20  accounts for the user&#39;s preference to receive a child kidnapping alert but not a tornado alert. The analyzing unit  22  ascertains whether a geocoded location of a user matches a geocoded area of an alert. If the geocoded location of the user matches the geocoded area of the alert, and if the alert is a preferred alert of the user, then the sending unit sends a message regarding the alert to a user of the system  100 . The preference unit  20  can confirm preferences of a user of the system  20  at any point in the process of geocoded alert system  100 . For example, the preference unit  20  could confirm that an alert is a preferred alert when the memory  12  receives the alert, or the preference unit  20  could confirm that the alert is a preferred alert after the analyzing unit  22  ascertains that the geocoded area matches the geocoded location. The line connections between the units  14 - 24  of the memory  12  are shown as exemplary paths for the flow of data. These paths may be altered or changed according to different combinations or subdivisions of the units  14 - 24  and according to different orders of steps of the method  101  described below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the device  10  of the geocoded alert system  100 . The device  10  has system memory  38 . Application programs  40 , an operating system  42 , and the memory  12  are included in the system memory  38 . The processor  26  executes the various units  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 , and  24  of the memory  12  as well as application programs  40  and the operating system  42 . The processor  26  is electrically coupled to the memory  12 . The processor  26  electrically couples the system memory  38  with the bus  28 . A video controller  30  and audio controller  34  are electrically coupled to the bus  28 . A display  32  is electrically coupled to the video controller  30  so that an administrator of the system  100  can view images associated with the operation of the system  100 . Speakers  36  are electrically coupled to the audio controller  34  so an administrator of the system  100  can hear any sounds associated with the operation of the system  100 . The data store  46  is electrically coupled to the bus  28 . Data manipulated by the memory  12  can be stored in the data store  46 . A network interface  44  couples the device  10  to any number of necessary networks  48  and  50 . Networks  48  and  50  can be any network, such as the Internet, an Intranet, a wireless network for mobile phones, a government database network, etc. The system  100  accesses or receives alerts from the information database  52  through network  48 . For example, the system  100  can access or receive specific locations of sex offenders from a directory of such offenders. The system  100  acquires geographic locations and sends messages to the communication device  54  through network  50 . The network  50  can be a wireless network through which the system  100  communicates with the communication device  54 . The communication device  54  can have a GPS associated therewith for determining the geographic location of the device  54 . The user of the system  100  can have multiple communication devices  54 . The geographic location can be the location of any of the communication devices  54  of the user of the system  100 , such as the user&#39;s mobile phone with GPS capabilities or the user&#39;s home computer. Thus, a user of the system  100  can have a home computer and a mobile phone with GPS associated with the system  100 . If the geographic location of the user&#39;s mobile phone is geocoded, and the geocoded location matches the geocoded area, then an alert message can be sent to the mobile phone as well as the home computer of the user. One of skill in the art would know how to electrically couple of the components of the device  10  and how to connect the device  10  to various networks. 
     The method  101  of the invention is discussed in  FIGS. 4 through 8  below. The exemplary embodiments of the system  100 , memory  12 , and device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , respectively, are used to describe the exemplary embodiment of the method  101 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a flow diagram for the method  101  of the geocoded alert system  100 . The method  101  shows the exemplary operations of the geocoded alert system  100  by which users of the system  100  are sent messages regarding alerts based on the geographic location of the user and the geographic area of the alert. The method begins at process blocks  102  and  110 . That is, data for the system is obtained and acquired in two parallel series of steps that merge in decision block  116 . 
     The first series of steps of the method  101  beings at process block  102 , where the system  100  acquires a geographic location from a communication device  54  of the user of the system  100 . In the exemplary embodiment of the memory  12 , the locating unit  18  acquires the geographic location. When the communication device  54  has a GPS associated therewith, the GPS of the communication device  54  provides the geographic location. The geographic location is a physical location such as an address, district, town, county, region, country, etc. The flow continues to process block  104 . 
     At process block  104 , the memory  12  geocodes the geographic location into a geocoded location. The geocoded location is a coded representation of the physical longitude and latitude coordinates of the communication device  54  of the user of the system  100 . Geocoding is performed by the geocoding unit  16  of the memory  12 , which is generally a piece of software that assigns geographic coordinates in latitude and longitude to a given location. Multiple coordinates can be used to define a location. With geographic coordinates assigned, the geocoded location allows the system  100  to quickly compare the code of the geographic location with the geographic area, discussed below. The flow continues to process block  106 . 
     At process block  106 , the geocoded location of the geographic location is stored in the data store  46 . The data store  46  can be permanent memory, such as a hard drive, or temporary memory, such as random access memory. The data store  46  is designed to integrate data from various sources to facilitate analysis thereof. The locating unit  18  of the memory  12  can store the geographic location in the data store  46 . The flow continues to process block  108 . 
     At process block  108 , the geocoded location is retrieved from the data store  46  once an alert is obtained. Thus, the system  100  allows for the immediate storage in the data store  46  of the geocoded location for later retrieval once a relevant alert is obtained from an information database  52 . The geocoding unit  16  or the analyzing unit  22  of the memory can retrieve the geocoded location from the data store  46 . Although not shown in  FIG. 4 , the system  100  can immediately store the geographic location (that is not geocoded) in the data store  46  and retrieve the geographic location for geocoding once a relevant alert is obtained. The locating unit  18  or the geocoding unit  16  of the memory  12  can retrieve the geographic location from the data store  46  for geocoding thereof. In another alternative, the system  100  can simply store both the geographic location and the geocoded location. Once the geocoded location is retrieved in process block  108 , the flow continues to decision block  116 . 
     The second series of steps of method  101  begins with process block  110 . At process block  110 , an alert is obtained from an information database  52 . The alert unit  14  of memory  12  accesses the information database  52  through a network  48 , such as the Internet. The alert is typically in the form of data that can be recognized and manipulated by the memory  12 . The alert has a notification component that contains information regarding the nature of the alert and a geographic component that contains information regarding the applicable geographic area of the alert. For example, the notification component contains information that the alert pertains to a chemical plant explosion. The geographic component of the alert contains information identifying the geographic areas affected by the chemical plant explosion. The geographic areas are the physical locations applicable to the alert, such an address, district, town, county, region, country, etc. In this chemical plant explosion example, if wind conditions change causing a change in the applicable geographic areas, then a new alert can be obtained and the content of the new applicable geographic areas can be processed by the system  100  for quick messaging of users of the system. The alert can be obtained in different ways, as is described in  FIGS. 6-7  below. The flow continues to process block  112 . 
     At process block  112 , the system  100  determines the applicable geographic area of the alert. The term “geographic area” applies to any size of a geographic area, such as a specific longitude-and-latitude position or a large span of land and/or ocean spanning large distances that can be identified by multiple longitude and latitude positions. Thus, the system  100  determines which physical locations are included in the geographic component of the alert. The flow continues to process block  114 . 
     At process block  114 , the system  100  geocodes the applicable geographic area of the alert into a geocoded area. Geocoding of the applicable geographic area is performed by the geocoding unit  16  of the memory  12 , which is generally a piece of software that assigns geographic coordinates in latitude and longitude to a given area. Multiple coordinates can be used to define a geocoded area. With geographic coordinates assigned, the geocoded area allows the system  100  to quickly compare the code of the geographic area with the code of the geographic location. The flow continues to decision block  116 . 
     At decision block  116 , the system  100  determines whether the geocoded area of the alert matches the geocoded location of the communication device  54 . This step of the method  101  can be performed by the analyzing unit  22  of the memory. The geocoded area may or may not match the geocoded location. To match, the geocoded area can be the geocoded location or the geocoded area can encompass the geocoded location. That is, one of the coordinates of the alert geocoded by the geocoding unit  16  matches one of the coordinates of the geographic location of the communication device  54  geocoded by the geocoding unit  16 . In this case, the flow continues to decision block  118 . If there is no match, none of the coordinates of the geocoded area match any of the coordinates of the geocoded location. In this case, the method  101  ends because the alert does not apply to the geographic location of the communication device  54  of the user of the system  100 . 
     At decision block  118 , the system  100  confirms that the alert is a preferred alert designated by the user of the system  100 . This step of the method  101  can be performed by the preference unit  20  of the memory  12 . Preferences of the user are entered into the data store  46 . The preference unit  20  can retrieve the user preferences. For example, a user can prefer to receive an alert regarding chemical plant explosions. If an alert is issued for a tornado, the alert is confirmed to be a preferred alert of the user in order to send a message regarding the alert to the user. The preferred alert can be confirmed at any time after the alert is obtained. In  FIG. 4 , the preferred alert is confirmed after the geocoded location is ascertained to match the geocoded area. If the alert is confirmed to be a preferred alert, the flow continues to process block  120 . If the alert is not confirmed to be a preferred alert, the flow ends. A feature of the preference unit  20  of the memory  12  is that a preferred type of message can also be stored in the data store  46 . Thus, if a user prefers messages by email, then the alert system  100  can store this preference so as to only send email messages regarding the preferred alert to the user&#39;s communication device  54 . 
     At process block  120 , the system  100  sends a message regarding a matched-preferred alert to a user. The user can be a subscriber to a commercial alert system. The sending unit  24  of the memory  12  converts the alert into a message that is communicated to the user&#39;s communication device  54  through network  50 . For example, the message can be an email, text-to-voice, SMS, voice, audible sound, or visual image sent to the mobile phone of the user. Once the user receives the message, the user has full knowledge of the alert and can respond accordingly. If the user is in the area of a chemical plant explosion, the user can immediately act to leave the area, contact emergency personnel, contact family, etc. The method  101  thus allows a user to immediately respond to desired alerts in small amounts of time. The reduced time in communication of the alerts can save money and lives depending on the type of alert. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a flow diagram for the step of acquiring of process block  102 . That is, the step of acquiring in process block  102  is subdivided into other processes. The flow begins with process block  122 . At process block  122 , the system  100  contacts the communication device  54  through network  50 . The contact information of the communication device  54  can be stored in the data store  46  so that the communication device  54  can be contacted at any time upon obtaining an alert. Contact can be made using the locating unit  18  of the memory  12 . The flow continues to process block  124 . 
     At process block  124 , the geographic location of the global positioning system  56  of the communication device  54  is established. The geographic location can be established by the locating unit  18  of the memory  12 . The GPS  56  calculates the position of the communication device  54 . The locating unit  18  and the communication device  54  communicate to establish the geographic location. The flow continues to process block  126 . 
     At process block  126 , the geographic location is returned to the system  100  from the communication device  54 . The locating unit  18  of the memory can return the geographic location. To return, the locating unit  18  can retrieve the location from the communication device  54  or the locating unit  18  can request the location and receive the location from the communication device  54 . The flow for the step of acquiring ends. The overall flow continues to process block  104 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a flow diagram for one embodiment of the step of obtaining of the method  101 . This embodiment of the step of obtaining of method  101  begins with process block  128 . At process block  128 , the system  100  scans the information database  52  for alerts applicable to users of the system  100 . The alert unit  14  of the memory  12  can scan the information database  52 . The information database  52  can be any number and type of databases that issue and/or store alerts. The flow continues to process block  130 . 
     At process block  130 , the system  100  retrieves the alert from the information database  52 . The alert unit  14  of the memory  12  can retrieve the alert. To retrieve, the system  100  affirmatively contacts information database  52  to request or inquire of alerts. The flow of this embodiment of the step of obtaining ends. The overall flow continues to process block  112 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a flow diagram for another embodiment of the step of obtaining. This embodiment of the step of obtaining of method  101  begins with process block  132 . At process block  132 , the system  100  receives an alert from the information database  52 . As stated above, the information database  52  can be any number/type of databases the issue/produce alerts. In this embodiment of the step of obtaining, the system  100  passively awaits the delivery of an alert from an information database  52 . The flow of this embodiment of the step of obtaining ends. The overall flow continues to process block  112 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a flow diagram for the step of sending. The step of sending begins with process block  134 . At process block  134 , the system  100  transmits a message to the communication device  54  of the user of the system  100  when the applicable geographic area of said alert matches geographic location. The message can be an email, text-to-voice, SMS, voice message, video image, audible sound, etc., that is adequate in communicating the alert to the user. A feature of the preference unit  20  of the memory  12  is that a preferred type of message can be stored in the data store  46 . Thus, if a user prefers messages by email, then the alert system  100  can send only email messages regarding the alert to the user&#39;s communication device  54 . Thus, a preferred message type can be transmitted to the communication device  54  of the user. The message can be transmitted by the sending unit  24  of the memory  12 . The flow continues to process block  136 . 
     At process block  136 , the system  100  transfers the message to the communication device  54  through a wireless network. That is, the sending unit  24  of the memory  12  can transfer the message to the communication device  54  through the network  50 , which is a wireless network. If the communication device  54  is a mobile phone, then the wireless network is most likely a mobile phone network using mobile phone signal technology. The flow for the step of sending ends. The overall flow of the method  101  also ends once the message is sent to the user. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a flow diagram for an alternative method  138  of alerting users of the geocoded alert system  100 . The method  138  is similar to the method  101  discussed in  FIG. 4  above except that the process block  102  for acquiring a geographic location in  FIG. 4  is replaced with process block  140  in  FIG. 9 . In process block  140 , the user of the alert system  100  enters a geographic location from a communication device of the user. The communication device can be a phone, mobile or cell phone, computer, or other device by which the user can communicate a geographic location to the system  100 . The remaining process blocks  104  through  120  in the method  138  shown in  FIG. 9  are similar to the process blocks  104  through  120  of the method  101  shown in  FIG. 4 . The method  138  allows a user of the alert system  100  to manually enter location data that is then retained and geocoded in the system  100  for communication of alerts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , there is shown a user interface  142  for the preference unit  20  of the system  100 . The user interface  142  allows a user of the system  100  to manually enter preferences into the preference unit  20 . The user interface  142  shows various preferences of the preference unit  20 : an alert source  144 , a start time  146  for which the alert can be communicated to the user of the system  100 , an end time  148  for which the alert can be communicated to the user of the system  100 , a method of contact  150 , an alert status  158 , and a save button  160  by which the user can save preferences to the preference unit  20 . The particular alert source  144  shown in  FIG. 10  is an earthquake alert; however, the invention contemplates that any type of alert can be used in the user interface  142 . The start and end times  146  and  148  of the user interface  142  are the times during which a user prefers to be contacted in the event of a preferred alert. In  FIG. 10 , the user prefers to receive an alert from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily. Thus, from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM the user will not receive alerts from the system  100 . Drop down button  147  for the start time  146  and drop down button  149  for the end time  148  allow the user to adjust the times to receive alerts. The user interface  142  allows a user to choose a time frame for daily receipt of alerts. The user interface could also include options for choosing, the days, weeks, months, etc. for receiving alerts. 
     Three methods of contact  150  are shown in  FIG. 10 . The user can choose to be contacted by email  152 , shown by the letter icon, by SMS  154 , shown by the mobile-phone icon, or by text-to-voice  156 , shown by the caption bubble icon. The radio button  153  for email  152  is selected, while the radio button  155  for SMS  154  and the radio button  157  for text-to-voice  156  is are not selected, so the user of the user interface  142  prefers to only be contacted by email  152 . Other methods of contact or communication can be included in the user interface  142 , and the user can choose any combination of methods of contact or communication. In  FIG. 10 , the user has the ability to turn all communications of alerts on or off with the alert status  158 . The alert status  158  of the user interface  142  is set to “on.” Once a user chooses the various preferences in the user interface, the user clicks on the save button  160  in order to save the preferences in the system  100 . 
     By choosing preferences in the user interface  142  of the preference unit  20 , the user&#39;s preferences are stored in the system  100  so that the system can determine whether an alert is a preferred alert. For  FIG. 10 , the user will receive an earthquake alert by email from the hours of 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The user can modify these preferences at any time and can have any number of other available alerts with respective preferences saved at any given time. 
     Using the disclosed methods  101  and  138 , the user chooses preferences of whether to receive a type of alert. An alert can be communicated to a user regardless of whether the user is physically located within the applicable geographic area of the alert. For example, a user can have a permanent home location A and be in location B for a business trip. Locations A and B can be manually entered by the user or can be acquired by the system  100  using a communication device of the user. Thus, the method allows location A of a user to be used to determine whether to send an alert to the user regardless whether the user is in location A or in location B. If the user is at location A and an alert is received for location A, then the user receives the alert, as long as it is a preferred alert. If the user plans to go on a trip to location B and would like to receive alerts for location B, the user can enter location B in the system  100  and choose preferred alerts of location B to receive while the user is in location A. If the user goes on a business trip to location B, the user can either maintain alerts for location A or elect to turn off the alerts for location A, all while receiving alerts at communication devices at either or both locations A and B. Moreover, the user can choose to receive alerts in location B for only location B. 
     The foregoing description is illustrative and explanatory of the disclosed embodiments. Various changes can be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be limited only by the following claims and their legal equivalents.