Patent ID: 7631047

Claim:
A computer implemented method for providing critical information to a user of a content providing service, the method comprising: storing a user profile in a computer data storage device that identifies a plurality of communication pathways to at least one of a wireless and a wire line communication network via which a critical information alert can be provided to a user associated with the user profile, wherein the user profile includes a respective set of decision criteria associated with each of the plurality of communication pathways, wherein each set of decision criteria is based on a likely location of the user determined by a comparison of location data identifying a current geographic location of the user and current user presence information against location data identifying an associated location of the user stored in the user profile, wherein a specific communication pathway for the critical information alert and a message type of the critical information alert are automatically determined by the satisfaction of the decision criteria associated with one of the plurality of communication pathways; within the user profile, presenting the user with an option of choosing a specific message type to be included with the critical information alert, the choice being between one of a text message and an audio message regardless of the specific communication pathway determined for the critical information alert, wherein the user is also provided with the capability to override the specific message type; identifying a satisfied set of decision criteria from among the respective sets of decision criteria by determining information that is related to the decision criteria; and providing the critical information alert and the specific message from an alert server to the user via the communication pathway associated with the satisfied set of decision criteria, wherein the critical information alert contains critical information provided by the content providing service.