Patent ID: 7064681

Claim:
A method for communications in connection with a computer-based notification system, comprising: initiating a notification communication to a personal communications device associated with a party, the notification communication relating to a task to be performed; during the notification communication, receiving a response from the party's personal communications device, indicating whether or not the party associated with the personal communications device will perform the task; when the party is willing to perform the task, refraining from sending any further notification communications to provoke performance of the task and monitoring for detection of one or more events to indicate accomplishment of the task by the party, the one or more events comprising at least one of the following: receipt of a second communication from the party's personal communications device; expiration of a predefined time period; or arrival or departure of a mobile thing at or from a location, respectively; and when the party is not willing to perform the task, initiating another notification communication to another personal communications device associated with another party in order to request assistance in the task from the another party.