Patent ID: 7558558

Claim:
A system for distributing a warning message to at least one mobile device user in a cellular network, the system comprising: an automated calling system having a mapping device operable to define a geographic message distribution area of the warning message, the automated calling system further operable to send the warning message; at least one cell tower having a plurality of sectors for transmitting information between the automated calling system and one or more mobile devices about the geographic message distribution area and the warning message; at least one processor operable to determine which individual cellular tower sectors encompass at least a portion of the geographic message distribution area, said at least one processor being further operable to identify at least one of the mobile devices in communication with at least one of said individual cellular tower sectors and to send the warning message and geographic information defining the message distribution area to only the at least one of the mobile devices in communication with the identified cellular tower sectors; wherein the at least one mobile device is operable to: receive the warning message and the geographic information defining the message distribution area, determine if the location of the at least one mobile device is within the geographic message distribution area, and wherein the at least one mobile device is further operable to present the warning message to the at least one mobile device user if the at least one mobile device determines that the location of the at least one mobile device is within the geographic message distribution area.