Patent ID: 8566023

Claim:
A system for managing a missing child incident, which comprises: a Guardian communications device for: (a) transmitting Guardian messages including pre-incident child identifying data, incident data, Guardian and child preference data, and other descriptive data concerning a missing child, where the transmitting comprises an immediate beginning of a search for a missing child, (b) receiving Responder messages and information concerning a status of a search for the missing child, (c) coordinating the search, and (d) when no update to the transmitted data has occurred for a designated period of time, prompting a Guardian of the missing child to update the transmitted data and promoting the Guardian when information relative to the search is received from participants in the search; at least one Responder communications device in wireless communication with the Guardian communications device and having a communication protocol compatible with the Guardian communications device for transmitting updates on Responder preference data, progress of the search, and location and recovery of the missing child; a communications network in wireless communication with the Guardian communications device and the at least one Responder communications device for routing messages from the Guardian communications device and the at least one Responder communications device regarding the missing child, the missing child incident, and coordination of the search; at least one system server connected to and in electrical communication with the communications network for independently controlling the search upon command of the Guardian, and for storing the Guardian messages and the Responder messages for access by the communications network for sharing with the Guardian and the at least one Responder; and an automated route planning component connected to and in electrical communication with the Guardian cellular phone or forming a part of the Guardian cellular phone to allow Guardian preference data including data concerning locations that pose a high risk of physical injury to a child, a risk of abduction of a child, or a risk of a child leaving the search area locations that pose a low risk to a child to be used in producing travel routes.