Patent ID: 7133869

Claim:
A knowledge switch comprising: (a) a logic kernel for receiving event information regarding a security event for which an information alert has been defined, for locating the corresponding information alert, and for automatically distributing the information alert to intended recipients; (b) a content database accessible by the logic kernel for storing information received from public and private computer networks, the information including the information alert; (c) a profiles module for storing user profiles including information for distributing the the information alert to the intended recipients, the profiles module including a contact list template for receiving input from a user for defining a plurality of different contact profiles of the user for delivering the information alert to the user, each contact profile indicating at least one mode and contact information for delivering the information alert to the user in the at least one mode, and a schedule template for associating a plurality of different time periods with the different contact profiles, wherein the knowledge switch is adapted to deliver the information alert to the user using at least one of the contact profiles and time periods specified by the user; (d) a plurality of input/output modules for distributing the information alert to the intended recipients via defined user devices; and (e) a knowledge switch configurator including functionality for allowing an administrator to define the event information, the information alert to be associated with the event information, and content to be included in the information alert, the content including a directive for instructing the intended recipients regarding action to be taken in response to the security event.