WO2015143077A1

WO2015143077A1 - Wireless alert device and mobile application for wireless alert communication

Info

Publication number: WO2015143077A1
Application number: PCT/US2015/021320
Authority: WO
Inventors: Srinath VADDEPALLY
Original assignee: Avyayah Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Avyayah Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2014-03-18
Filing date: 2015-03-18
Publication date: 2015-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-18

Abstract

A system for alerting emergency responders to the existence of an emergency. The system comprises software applications executable on a user mobile device, a responder mobile device, and a central server which allow an alert signal to be sent from the user mobile device to one or more responder mobile devices such as, for example, emergency responders, recipient(s) preselected by the user, and/or friends recently in contact with the user.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION

WIRELESS ALERT DEVICE AND MOBILE APPLICATION FOR WIRELESS ALERT COMMUNICATION

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/954,927, filed on March 18, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present application is in the field of emergency signaling and more particularly in the field of alert signaling for emergency services via wireless communication devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In a campus setting, such as a university or college campus, the primary department charged with the task of promoting a safe and secure environment for students is the university or college police department. This task is not a simple one and requires coordination between the students and the campus police. For example, data provided in a leading university police department's annual report indicated that various crimes were more prevalent in and around the university's campus and vicinity. For example, larceny, burglary, and aggravated assaults made up the majority of the crimes reported. While a majority of the safety measures adopted by the campus police have worked to reduce the numbers of such crimes and have endeavored to ensure the student's safety, most of the crimes were acknowledged only after the crime was committed and the student reported the offense.

[0004] Current safety procedures in most college and university settings include an active police presence, such as officers patrolling on foot, in vehicles, or on bikes, and the passive presence of call boxes. The problem with these current safety systems and measures is that they are non-flexible and do not provide for a means to silently or covertly alert the campus police to a crime before it happens or when it is in progress. Active patrols do not provide a full-time presence across a majority of the campus geography. Additionally, the call boxes provided on many university campuses are out of reach to a student when they are off campus, and even at most times when a student is on campus. Since they are typically secured to posts that are highly visible, they also do not provide a means to secretly contact the campus police. Further, calls placed from such a call box are routed to a call monitoring officer through an intermediate link, which introduces an additional step and additional time delay for response to a victim's complaint.

[0005] In recent times, wireless technology has empowered individuals to be increasingly self-reliant and independent. In particular, mobile devices such as cellular telephones and smart-phones have substantially increased access to assistance in emergency situations. Wireless devices allow users to conveniently communicate with friends, family members, work associates and businesses. These devices also allow users to reach out to medical professionals and emergency services with far greater ease than was possible with landline-based telecommunication devices and/or call boxes. However, emergency calls using such mobile devices require time-consuming dialing and word exchanges. The logistical difficulty and time delay associated with having to prepare the phone for dialing, dialing a specific number, and speaking coherently into the phone's receiver may render the phone useless in an emergency situation.

[0006] Furthermore, signaling during an ongoing emergency situation is fraught with unpredictable variables which can make placing an emergency services call difficult. For example, placing a call via a mobile device may alert an attacker to the report (e.g. the visual or audible action of making the call may alert the attacker). As such, the attacker may remove the victim's phone so that there is no other way for the victim to alert the campus police for help until he/she finds another call box or another phone. A current solution to this problem has been to provide mobile applications on these devices which can trigger an alert message to family or friends. Such applications only work, however, if the victim has sufficient time to open the mobile application and activate the alert signal.

[0007] While many modern mobile telecommunications devices such as cell phones track the location of the device via GPS or cellular triangulation, this information is rarely used to improve responsiveness to an emergency situation. Current EMS responders and 911 dispatch centers will not respond without a physical address and lack the capability to access GPS positions of mobile telecommunications devices. Most users when confronted with a dangerous situation do not know their current address, may be too panicked to recall, or as indicated above, may feel that audible response might place them in greater danger.

[0008] While campus police departments may be taking all available steps to actively ensure a student's safety, it is becoming increasingly essential to adapt current systems to take advantage of new and emerging technologies. Accordingly, there is a need in the prior art for sophisticated tools for student use which may provide help to a student who witnesses or is the victim of a crime and for campus police to assure accessibility and responsiveness to student safety needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The presently disclosed invention overcomes many of the shortcomings of the prior art by providing software applications which allow an alert signal to be sent from a user mobile device to an alert recipient such as, for example, a college campus police department. In certain embodiments, the alert signal may originate at a wireless alert device configured to communicate with the user mobile device. In all cases, the alert signal may be sent soundlessly and covertly by a simple user interaction with the device (i.e. the user mobile dive and/or the wireless alert device).

[0010] According to its major aspects, and briefly stated, the presently disclosed invention provides a method for emergency signaling. The method comprises: receiving an initiation interaction from a user at a user mobile device; activating a software application running on the user mobile device in response to the initiation interaction; sending, by the software application running on the user mobile device, a data packet to a central server via a mobile communications network, wherein the data packet includes at least a current location of the user mobile device; and sending, by the central server, an alert request to one or more responder mobile devices via a mobile communications network, wherein the alert request comprises at least the current location of the user mobile device.

[0011] In embodiments of the method, the initiation interaction may comprise depressing a power button on the user mobile device at least two times, shaking the user mobile device in a certain pattern, speaking a verbal code, or depressing the volume button in a certain pattern. In a preferred embodiment, the initiation interaction comprises depressing a power button on the user mobile device four times.

[0012] In certain embodiments of the method, before the step of sending the data packet to the central server, the following step is performed: providing, by the software application running on the user mobile device, a query to cancel the alert signal on the user mobile device, wherein if the query remains unanswered for a first time length, the data packet is sent to the central server. [0013] In certain embodiments of the method, after the step of activating the software application, the following step is performed: recording audio information for at a first time length. In preferred embodiments, the first time length may comprise thirty seconds.

[0014] Certain other embodiments of the method further comprise sending, by the central server, an alert message to a list of contact mobile devices via a mobile communications network, wherein the list of contact mobile devices is selected by the user and includes contact information for other user mobile devices running the software application.

[0015] Certain other embodiments of the method further comprise storing, by the software application running on the user mobile device, a list of friends selected by the user, wherein the list of friends includes contact information for other user mobile devices running the software application.

[0016] Certain other embodiments of the method further comprise recording, by the software application running on the user mobile device, a list of proximate friends, wherein the list of proximate friends comprises users selected from the list of friends encountered within a first proximity distance within a specified time; and sending, by the central server, an alert message via a mobile communications network to the mobile devices of one or more proximate friends. Sending an alert message to the mobile devices of one or more proximate friends may comprise: sending an alert message to proximate friends encountered within 24 hours, or sending an alert message to six most recently encountered proximate friends. In preferred embodiments, the first proximity distance is a distance detectable by Bluetooth Low Energy communication.

[0017] In certain embodiments of the method, the initiation interaction may comprises: depressing a button on a wireless alert device, wherein the wireless alert device comprises: a housing defining an interior cavity; a first transmitter contained within the interior cavity, wherein the first transmitter is configured to wirelessly communicate data to the user mobile device; and a triggering mechanism operable to actuate the first transmitter. The wireless alert device may be wirelessly matchable to the user mobile device.

[0018] According to its major aspects, and briefly stated, the presently disclosed invention provides a system for emergency signaling. The system may comprise: a user software application running on at least one user mobile device and configured to: receive an initiation signal from the at least one user mobile device, and send an alert message comprising at least the current location of the at least one user mobile device. The system may further comprise: an alert database running on a central server, the central server operable to bi-directionally communicate with the at least one user mobile device to receive the alert message. The system may further comprise: a responder software application running on at least one responder mobile device and configured to: receive the alert signal from the central server, and send an response signal to the central server when a location of the responder mobile device is within a first distance to the current location of the at least one user mobile device.

[0019] In certain embodiments of the system, the first distance is a distance detectable by Bluetooth Low Energy communication. Further, the communication between the server and the at least one user device and/or the at least one responder mobile device may comprise one or more of an internet, intranet, and cellular network. The alert message may comprise one or more of video, audio, image, text, data in encrypted form, and/or data in unencrypted form.

[0020] In certain embodiments of the system, the responder mobile device may comprise one or more of a mobile device, a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, and an internet television, and at least one of the one or more responder devices and a responder login is registered with the system.

[0021] In certain other embodiments of the system, the initiation signal may comprise depressing a power button on the user mobile device at least two times, shaking the user mobile device in a certain pattern, speaking a verbal code, or depressing the volume button in a certain pattern.

[0022] Another embodiment of the presently disclosed invention includes a wireless alert device which comprises a housing defining an interior cavity, a first transmitter contained within the interior cavity, and a triggering mechanism operable to actuate the first transmitter. The first transmitter may be configured to wirelessly communicate data to a user mobile device, where the user mobile device includes at least a transmitter, a receiver, a processor, a GPS receiver, and a memory. In certain embodiments, the wireless alert device may also comprise a speaker which may provide an audible signal. This signal may be activated by a software product running on the user mobile device and may be used to locate the wireless alert device (e.g. help find the device if lost or misplaced). As such, the wireless communication device may further comprise an IR/light sensor. [0023] In certain embodiments, the wireless alert device may be wirelessly paired to the user mobile device. In certain other embodiments, the wireless alert device may not be paired to the user mobile device, but may communicate with any portable electronic device within a certain distance that is configured to receive a signal from the wireless alert device (e.g. any portable electronic device which has the software application installed).

[0024] A memory in the wireless alert device and the memory in the user mobile device may store unique signals or codes which support bi-directional communication between the wireless alert device and the user mobile device.

[0025] The first transmitter of the wireless alert device may be a Near Field Communication transmitter, a Bluetooth® transmitter, or a Bluetooth® low energy transmitter. Further, the housing may be a key fob, a bracelet, a necklace, a ring, a watch, or a tiny slate and the portable electronic device may be a cellular phone, a smartphone, or a tablet. The housing may further comprise one or more user-replaceable batteries, a tiny speaker, and/or IR/light sensor. The trigging mechanism of the user mobile may be external to the housing and may comprise at least one of a compressible button, a sliding button, a rotating button, a rotating switch, or a sliding switch. Alternatively, the triggering mechanism may be positioned within the internal cavity of the housing and may comprise at least one compressible button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Aspects, features, benefits and advantages of the embodiments herein will be apparent with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. In the following figures, like numerals represent like features in the various views. It is to be noted that features and components in these drawings, illustrating the views of embodiments of the presently disclosed invention, unless stated to be otherwise, are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a communication path initiated in response to actuation of a system for alerting emergency responders in accordance with certain aspects of the presently disclosed invention; and

[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a wireless alert device in accordance with certain aspects of the presently disclosed invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In the following description, the present invention is set forth in the context of various alternative embodiments and implementations involving a system for alerting emergency responders to the existence of an emergency. The system may comprise software applications executable on a user mobile device, a responder mobile device, and a centra! server which allow an alert signal to be sent from the user mobile device to one or more responder mobile devices such as, for example, emergency responders and/or recipient(s) preselected by the user. The alert signal may be initiated by actuating an alert device to send a wireless communication to the user mobile device which causes the software application on the user mobile device to be activated. Alternatively, the software application on the user mobile device may be activated by a user's direct interaction with the user mobile device such as, for example, by depressing a button on the exterior of the user mobile device or interacting with a screen portion of the user mobile device.

[0030] Various aspects of the systems, articles, and devices of the presently disclosed invention may be illustrated by describing components that are coupled, attached, and/or joined together. As used herein, the terms "coupled", "attached", and/or "joined" are interchangeably used to indicate either a direct connection between two components or, where appropriate, an indirect connection to one another through intervening or intermediate components. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being "directly coupled", "directly attached", and/or "directly joined" to another component, there are no intervening elements shown in said examples.

[0031] Various aspects of the systems, articles, and devices of the presently disclosed invention may be illustrated with reference to one or more exemplary implementations. As used herein, the term "exemplary" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other variations of the devices, systems, or methods disclosed herein. "Optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not. In addition, the word "comprising" as used herein means "including, but not limited to".

[0032] Relative terms such as "lower" or "bottom" and "upper" or "top" may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element illustrated in the drawings. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of aspects of the devices in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. By way of example, if aspects of the wireless alert device shown in the drawings are turned over, elements described as being on the "bottom" side of the other elements would then be oriented on the "top" side of the other elements as shown in the relevant drawing. The term "bottom" can therefore encompass both an orientation of "bottom" and "top" depending on the particular orientation of the drawing.

[0033] It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a "button" is a reference to one or more buttons and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0034] As used in this specification and in the appended claims, the term "network" is meant to be understood broadly as any connection between at least two components such that the components are able to communicate with each other, including at least electrical communication and/or wireless communication. Further, while the term "cell" or "cellular" is used herein to refer to certain types of mobile telecommunications device communication protocols, this term is used in its broadest sense, and therefore, includes technology covered by personal communications service ("PCS") protocol, and the Global System for Mobile communications ("GSM") protocol as is common in Europe, and the like.

[0035] In the embodiments described herein, the term "Internet" is used generally to refer to a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that utilize the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicate with one another. Of course, network access may also be provided via a number of different types of networks, such as an intranet, a local area network (LAN), a virtual private network (VPN), or other wide area network (WAN) other than the Internet, for example.

[0036] Personal Security System

[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, a personal security system is shown generally designated by reference number 10. The system 10 may include software applications configured to operate on at least one user mobile device 100, at least one responder mobile device 104, and at least one server 102. [0038] A user may interact with the user mobile device 100 to initiate an alert mode of the device. The alert mode of the user mobile device 100 may comprise activating a software application which was previously running in the background on the user mobile device 100. Alternatively, the user interaction may cause the software application to newly launch and enter an alert mode of the device.

[0039] The user interaction may include depressing any of the external buttons on the user mobile device 100, such as depressing the power button on the user mobile device at least two times, shaking the user mobile device in a certain pattern, speaking a verbal code, depressing the volume button in a certain pattern, or interacting with a user interface provided on a graphical screen. In an exemplary embodiment, the user interaction comprises depressing the power button on the user mobile device 100 several times in quick succession. In a preferred embodiment, the power button is depressed four times in quick succession.

[0040] In the alert mode, the software application may send an alert signal 106 to the central server 102. The alert signal 106 may comprise a data packet which includes at least the current geographic location of the user mobile device 100.

[0041] The alert signal 106 may comprise at least one of a short message service (SMS) text message, a multimedia messaging service (MMS) multimedia message, an electronic mail message, a chat message, or a message transmitted via an SMS gateway, an MMS gateway, or other message transmission system as detailed herein below.

[0042] Information regarding the user such as, for example, identity information, may be garnered from data stored on the user mobile device 100, which may be sent as part of the alert signal data packet 106, or may be garnered from information stored in a database located on the central server 102. In this latter case, a unique code associated with the user mobile device 100 may be used to identify the user.

[0043] Typically, a mobile device will have one or more associated codes which identify the specific device, the device's owner, and the device's service provider. For example, a cellular phone might have an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) or Mobile Equipment IDentifier (MEID) that is programmed into the phone when it is manufactured, a Mobile Identification Number (ΜΓΝ) that is derived from the phone's number, and a System Identification Code (SID) that is assigned to each carrier by the Federal Communication Commissioner (FCC). While the ESN or MEID are considered a permanent part of the phone, both the MEN and SID codes are programmed into the phone when the cell phone is activated by a carrier. Additionally, many cellular phones include a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) memory card. A SIM card is a removable card that stores a service-subscriber key (IMSI) used by a carrier to identify a subscriber. Thus, the codes associated with the user mobile device 100 may be used to uniquely identify the user within the database on the central server 102.

[0044] The user mobile device 100 and the responder mobile device 104 may comprise any sort of electronic device that is capable of being carried by a person, i.e. any portable electronic device. For example and without limitation, the mobile device may be a mobile or cellular phone including a smart phone (e.g., an iPhone® or a Samsung™ Galaxy), a Blackberry® device, a mobile computer (e.g., a Palm® device), a tablet computer (e.g., an iPad®), a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like.

[0045] In certain embodiments, the responder mobile device 104 may further comprise a portable electronic device which is capable of operating in a vehicle such as a car, truck, van, or motorcycle. Non-limiting examples of such devices include personal computers and/or laptop computers.

[0046] The general architecture of the user mobile device 100 and/or the responder mobile device 104 includes at least a central processing unit (CPU) where the computer instructions that comprise the software application are processed; a display interface or a keyboard interface that provides a communication interface to the device; a network connection interface that provides a communication interface to a network; a random access memory (RAM) where computer instructions and data are stored in a volatile memory device for processing by the CPU; a read-only memory (ROM) where invariant low-level systems code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of input information are stored in a non-volatile memory device; a storage medium or other suitable type of memory (e.g. such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives), where the files that comprise an operating system, application programs (including, for example, a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine, and or other applications, as necessary) and data files are stored; a navigation module that provides a real-world or relative position or geographic location of the device; a power source that provides an appropriate alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) to power components. [0047] The user mobile device 100 and/or the responder mobile device 104 may further include an antenna, which may be an external antenna or an internal antenna, may be a directional or omni-directional antenna used for the transmission and reception of radiofrequency (RF) signals that implement point-to-point radio communication, wireless local area network (LAN) communication, or location determination. The antenna may facilitate point-to-point radio communication using the Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR), cellular, or Personal Communication Service (PCS) frequency bands, and may implement the transmission of data using any number or data standards. For example, the antenna may allow data to be transmitted between the device and the central server 102 using technologies such as Wireless Broadband (WiBro), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave ACCess (WiMAX), 3 GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), High Performance Radio Metropolitan Network (HIPERMAN), iBurst or High Capacity Spatial Division Multiple Access (HC-SDMA), High Speed OFDM Packet Access (HSOPA), High- Speed Packet Access (HSPA), HSPA Evolution, HSPA+, High Speed Upload Packet Access (HSUPA), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Generic Access Network (GAN), Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Evolution-Data Optimized (or Evolution-Data Only) (EVDO), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), Freedom Of Mobile Multimedia Access (FOMA), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W- CDMA), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), Code Division Multiple Access-2000 (CDM 2000), Wideband Integrated Dispatch Enhanced Network (WiDEN), High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Personal Handy-Phone System (PHS), Circuit Switched Data (CSD), Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), CDMAone, Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System (D- AMPS), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), DataTAC, Mobitex, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Hicap, Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Nordic Mobile Phone (NMP), Autoradiopuhelin (ARP), Autotel or Public Automated Land Mobile (PALM), Mobiltelefonisystem D (MTD), Offentlig Landmobil Telefoni (OLT), Advanced Mobile Telephone System (AMTS), Improved Mobile Telephone Service (IMTS), Mobile Telephone System (MTS), Push-To- Talk (PTT), or other technologies. Communication via W-CDMA, HSUPA, GSM, GPRS, and EDGE networks may occur, for example, using a QUALCOMM MSM7200A chipset with an QUALCOMM RTR6285™ transceiver and PM7540™ power management circuit. [0048] The user mobile device 100 and/or responder mobile device 104 may further include one or more of: a sound interface that provides a communication interface for converting sound into electrical signals using the microphone and for converting electrical signals into sound using a speaker; and/or a camera interface that provides still or continuous images which may be transmitted over a network.

[0049] Thus, the alert signal data packet 106 may further include audio, video, and/or other digital information. For example, in embodiments where the user mobile device 100 comprises a microphone, the microphone may allow the user mobile device 100 to capture sound generated by a user such as, for example, when the user is speaking to an attacker, which may be conveyed to the central server 102 as part of the alert signal data packet 106.. The microphone may be an omni-directional microphone, a unidirectional microphone, a bidirectional microphone, a shotgun microphone, or any other type of apparatus that converts sound to an electrical signal.

[0050] Furthermore, in embodiments of the system wherein the user mobile device 100 comprises a camera, the camera may allow the user mobile device to capture digital images generated after the user has placed the user mobile device into alert mode, which may be conveyed to the central server 102 as part of the alert signal data packet 106. These images may be still images or video stream. The camera may be a scanner, a digital still camera, a digital video camera, or any other type of digital input device.

[0051] In certain embodiments, the software application may be configurable to provide multiple alarm options for the user mobile device 100. For example, in the event of an attack, a very effective response may be to make a lot of noise. As such, the software application product may direct the user mobile device 100 to sound an audible alarm.

[0052] The CPU of the user mobile device 100 and/or responder mobile device 104 may be one of a number of computer processors. In one arrangement, the CPU is more than one processing unit. The RAM interfaces with the computer bus so as to provide quick RAM storage to the CPU during the execution of software applications such as the operating system application programs, and device drivers. More specifically, the CPU loads computer- executable process steps from the storage medium or other media into a field of the RAM in order to execute software programs. Data is stored in the RAM, where the data is accessed by the computer CPU during execution. [0053] The storage medium itself may include a number of physical drive units, such as a redundant array of independent disks (RAID), a floppy disk drive, a flash memory, a USB flash drive, an external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, a High- Density Digital Versatile Disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, an internal hard disk drive, a Blu-Ray optical disc drive, or a Holographic Digital Data Storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, an external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), or an external micro-DIMM SDRAM. Such computer readable storage media allow the user mobile device 100 and/or responder mobile device 104 to access computer-executable process steps, application programs and the like, stored on removable and non-removable memory media, to off-load data from the device (100, 104), or to upload data onto the device.

[0054] A software application product is tangibly embodied in storage medium, a machine-readable storage medium. As such, the software application product operable on the user mobile device 100 includes instructions that cause the device 100 to send an alert signal 106 via any one of the networks types described herein to a central server 102. Once the alert signal data packet 106 is received by the central server 102, a list of responders who may be able to respond to the alert signal is compiled. For example, available responders near to the geographic location of the user mobile device 100 sending the alert signal 106 may be included in the compiled list. Alternatively, responders assigned to patrol a specific geographic location may be included in the compiled list. Thus, the central server 102 may send a response signal 108 to one or more selected responder mobile devices 104. The response signal 108 may include at least the geographic location of the user mobile device 100 which sent the alert signal 106.

[0055] A software application product operable on the responder mobile device 104 includes instructions that may cause the responder mobile device to receive an alert signal 108 via any one of the networks types described herein from the central server 102. Based on information received with the alert signal 108, the responder may proceed to the noted geographic location to provide assistance, shown as arrow 110 in FIG. 1.

[0056] In certain embodiments, when the responder arrives at the noted geographic location, the responder mobile device 104 may come within a predefined proximity of the user mobile device 100 (or vice versa, the user mobile device 100 may come within a predefined proximity of the responder mobile device 104), and may signal 109 back to the central server 102 that the dispatched responder has arrived at the noted geographic location. This provides information regarding response time(s) which may be shared with other applications to provide real-time crime monitoring data. Such data may be shared, or integrated, with a city police crime monitoring dashboard or other university crime monitoring dashboards.

[0057] This proximity sensing function may also be used to help locate the user in need. For example, in the case of abduction, the user may be hidden from public view. When a responder arrives at the noted geographic location, there may be no sign of the user who originated the alert signal. Without the assistance of the geographic location data sent by the user mobile device 100, the responder may discontinue looking for the user in need. With the knowledge that the user in need is still in the note geographic location, the responder may continue to search for the user.

[0058] In certain embodiments, the alert signal data packet 106 may include audio and/or video information which may be used to ascertain the severity and/or type of emergency. This additional information may be included in the responder signal 108, and may aid the responder in locating the user in need and/or preparing for the type of emergency which the user is experiencing.

[0059] In certain embodiments, the alert signal 106 may be propagated continuously after the alert mode of the user mobile device 100 is activated. Alternatively, the alert signal 106 may be repeated a specific time intervals. In either of these latter two embodiments, the responder signal 108 may include updated information regarding the geographic location of the user mobile device 100, and/or updated audio and/or visual information which may assist in ascertaining the nature and severity of the emergency.

[0060] In certain embodiments, the central server 102 may provide feedback information to the user mobile device 100 via a feedback signal 107. Such information may include any or all of the following: that a responder(s) has been dispatched to the geographic location of the user mobile device 100, the number of responders dispatched, a predicted arrival time for the responder(s), and that the responder(s) have arrived at the geographic location of the user mobile device 100. This information may be provided by an audio signal, a visual signal such as a new screen on the user mobile device 100, or a discrete signal such as a number of vibrations of the device (e.g., one vibration may indicate that the signal has been received, two vibrations may indicate that a responder in on the way, and three may indicate that the responder has arrived at the geographic location of the user mobile device 100).

[0061] In certain embodiments, the central server 102 may also send a signal 112 to all of the user's in the same network as the user mobile device 100 which originated the alert signal 106. For example, if the user who originated the alert signal 106 is a student at State University, the mobile devices 114 of all State University students who have registered with the central server 102 may receive a signal 112. For each student mobile device 114 in the network, the software application running thereon may compare the geographic location of the alert signal 106 to the current geographic location of the student mobile device 114 (shown as arrow 116).

[0062] For those devices 114 in proximity to the device 100 which originated the alert signal 106 (i.e. a distance between the two locations which is within a preset limit), a message may be generated 120. This message may ask the student to respond regarding the emergency indicated by the alert signal 106. The response may include information regarding the validity of the alert signal 106 (i.e. can you verify an emergency, can you verify the number of people involved, can you verify the type of emergency). The student may interact with the software application running on the student mobile device 114 respond to the query, thus generating a message 122 which is sent back to the central server 102. This information may be used to validate the emergency, and/or to reevaluate the type and number of responders that should be dispatched.

[0063] No message 118 is generated on student mobile devices 114 that are not within the preset distance limit to the device 100 which originated the alert signal 106.

[0064] The user mobile device 100 may comprise a global positioning system (GPS) so that it may send and receive position location information. That is, the device may be in communication with orbital satellites and through this communication, may be able to receive information from the satellites and calculate a position based on this information. In some instances, the user mobile device 100 may also track and display the number of GPS satellites it is in communication with and may calculate the accuracy of the displayed position. Additionally, some user mobile device 100 may also comprise altimeters allowing even more enhanced location information.

[0065] Alternatively, or in addition to the GPS system, the location of the user mobile device 100 may be calculated via cellular triangulation. That is, the device's location may be pinpointed by comparing the relative strength of signals between multiple cellular towers. This may provide very accurate location information depending on the number of cellular towers accessible by the network and the number of portable electronic devices operating at any time.

[0066] In addition to the signal recipients shown in FIG. 1, the central server 102 may send signals to certain individuals that the user has chosen or selected during the software installation/registration process. That is, when the software application product is first installed and/or registered on a user mobile device 100, the user may allow the software application product to receive data related to a contacts list of the user (e.g., email or Facebook contacts). This contact list may be used to define a friendship link with certain other users of the software application product. Alternatively, the user may enter information related to specific contacts without linking to a contacts list. For example, a user may wish to have close family members contacted when an alert signal is sent by the user, such as a user's parent. This contact may be initiated as a text message, phone call, email, or other communication is the selected user is not currently running the software application on a mobile device.

[0067] In certain embodiments, the software application product running on the user mobile device 100 may be configured to define a dynamic circle of friends. For example, a user may be able to form their own circle of friends dynamically to seek help from their nearby friends (buddies). That is, the software application product running on the user mobile device 100 may use proximity information of recently encountered friends (using GPS or BLE information) to form an extended list of alert recipients. When a user activates the software application on the user mobile device 100 to send an alert signal to the central server 102, information regarding the most recently encountered friends may also be sent to the central server 102 as part of the alert signal data packet 106. As such, whenever a user mobile device 100 comes within a specified proximity range of another user mobile device which is also running the software application (friends mobile device), if that user is linked as a friend, the software application on the user mobile device 100 stores that user as a "recent bump". When an alert signal 106 is sent to the central server 102, information regarding the identity of the most recent bumps may also be sent to the central server.

[0068] The software application running on the central server 102 then sends the responder signal 108 to the responder mobile device 104, and may also send a message to the friend's mobile devices for the most recent bumps. In a preferred embodiment, up to six recent bumps may be contacted or messaged.

[0069] In certain embodiments, the server may have integration capabilities with mobile devices not running the presently disclosed software application. For example, the server may issue software development kit (SDK) and/or application programming interfaces (API) for third party developers to develop applications which interact with the central server.

[0070] The message sent to the three most recent bumps may ask the friends to verify the earlier interaction with the user who has sent the alert signal from their mobile device. As such, the responder and/or dispatcher may be able to gain additional information regarding the health condition of the user, and/or a possible identity of the assailant of the user.

[0071] Wireless alert device

[0072] In certain embodiments, the personal security system may include a wireless alert device which may be activated to send a wireless signal to the user mobile device. The wireless alert device may be a portable object comprising a housing such as, for example, a key fob, a necklace, a ring, a wristwatch, tiny slate, or a bracelet that is carried or worn by a user. The housing may have an internal cavity configured to enclose a transmitter capable of sending the wireless signal. Further, the housing may comprise a triggering mechanism such as a button or switch which may be capable of actuating the wireless transmitter. Once actuated, the wireless transmitter may send the wireless signal to the user mobile device, thus causing the software application on the user mobile device to send the alert signal to the central server as described herein.

[0073] In certain embodiments, the wireless alert device may also comprise a speaker which may provide an audible signal. This signal may be activated by the software product running on the user mobile device and may be used to locate the wireless alert device (e.g. help find the device if lost or misplaced). As such, the wireless communication device may further comprise an IR/light sensor.

[0074] Any of a variety of wireless communication protocols and associated transmitters may be used to support wireless communication between the wireless alert device and the user mobile device such as, for example, Near Field Communication, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth® low energy, ANT™, RFID, or ZigBee®. Bluetooth® low energy (BLE) is a feature of Bluetooth® wireless technology directed to low power applications for wireless devices. Such devices may be used within a short range (e.g., less than 50 meters), and may only consume a fraction of the power of conventional Bluetooth® enabled devices. This allows the wireless alert device to expand its longevity of operation prior to having to recharge or replace the battery (e.g., up to a year on small coin sized batteries). As a result, the wireless alert device can remain continuously "on" as opposed to cycling between a polling mode and a sleep mode.

[0075] Once the signal has been sent from the wireless alert device to the portable electronic device, the software application product may be launched on the portable electronic device. The software application on the portable electronic device may also run in the back ground as described above.

[0076] In an embodiment, the wireless alert device may be operable in different modes that may be selected by the user, such as an audible alarm mode, a silent alarm mode, or a combination of audible and silent alarm mode. In accordance with such an embodiment, when the wireless alert device is actuated, the appropriate alarm may be activated according to the selected alarm mode. Such selection may be made through the use of various different buttons, different positions of a single button, or by pressing a single button a specific number of times. For example, the triggering mechanism may be a single button that is depressed once for a silent alarm, such as the alert signal 106 which originates from the user mobile device 100, as described above. Depressing the button twice may trigger an audible alarm which may originate from the user mobile device 100, from the wireless alert device, or from both. Depressing the button three times may activate a combination of the silent alarm and the audible alarm.

[0077] The presently disclosed invention thus provides for a device which allows for improved personal safely by allowing stealth mode alert messages to be sent via a user mobile device even when the user is away from their device by a short distance (20m from mobile phone for example) or without their mobile phone (device may be used with a friend's mobile phone enable to run the software application).

[0078] Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of the wireless alert device of the presently disclosed invention is shown in FIG. 2 generally designated by the reference numeral 200. The wireless alert device 200 may be a key fob comprising a key ring 212 and a main housing 214. The housing may define an internal cavity sized to accommodate a wireless device such as a BLE device. A triggering mechanism may be at least one compressible button housed within the internal cavity of the housing 214, or at least one button 216 on an external surface of the housing 14.

[0079] The software application

[0080] The software application may be obtained and activated by the user, such as through download to the user mobile device, or may be pre-installed on the user mobile device. Once the software application is installed on the user mobile device, it may be activated to operate in the background, in an alert mode.

[0081] According to one embodiment, interaction with the software application to update or enter information regarding a new or existing user may occur via the software application installed on the user mobile device, or via a website which is globally accessible. User information may include any of user name, birth date, home and work addresses, employer information, medical insurance, preexisting conditions, medications, allergies, and blood type.

[0082] The software application may authenticate and/or place a user in a specific "network" during the registration process, such as through a school or personal email address, employment location, home address, etc. Further, the user may enable certain preferences and/or settings during the registration process, such as a crime alert confirmation preference, crime alert recent bumps sharing preference, a voice recording, autocall preferences, a friends list, etc. A list of friends or "buddies" may also be included during this registration process, or may be updated at anytime via the software application running on the user mobile device or via a web page.

[0083] The recent bumps sharing mentioned above utilizes the GPS and/or BLE information of recently encountered friends (buddies) to form an extended list of alert recipients. When a user activates the software application on the user mobile device to send an alert signal to the central server, information regarding the most recently encountered friends may also be sent to the central server as part of the alert signal data packet. The software application running on the central server then sends the responder signal to the responder mobile device, and may also send a message preselected recipients, and/or to the friends mobile devices for the most recent bumps. In a preferred embodiment, up to three recent bumps may be contacted or messaged.

[0084] The message sent to the three most recent bumps may ask the friends to verify the earlier interaction with the user who has sent the alert signal from their mobile device. As such, the responder and/or dispatcher may be able to gain additional information regarding the health condition of the user, and/or a possible identity of the assailant of the user.

[0085] As indicated above, in a preferred embodiment, the user may activate the software application running on the user mobile device by pressing the power button four times. This activates the software application to send an alert signal data packet comprising the user's name, current location and contact details including a google maps link, GPS coordinates , a buddy list, and recent bumps information.

[0086] The user mobile device may vibrate as confirmation that the alert was sent. In embodiments, the alert signal is processed at the central server which then sends messages to at least the responder mobile devices, and optionally also to the recent bumps, the friends list, and/or other security personnel (e.g., 91 1). A user will have a short time to cancel an alert message if the software application running on the user mobile device was activated in error. For example, the user may have 30 seconds to cancel the alert, such as by providing a password pin, fingerprint, or other input.

[0087] If the user does not cancel the alert signal, the user mobile device may have recorded the first 30 seconds of audio and/or video, and may send this information as part of the alert signal data packet. The central server may then receive this alert signal data packet. A dispatcher may view the alert information and assign response to one of the available responders. This may involve sending a response signal to the responder via their responder mobile device. The alert signal may be continuously sent by the user mobile device to the central server, and may be continuously view by the dispatcher and/or the responder on the responder mobile device.

[0088] In certain embodiments of the software application running on the user mobile device, a user may report a crime. The crime reported may be selected from a list of possible crime types, such as up to 20 different types, with as much detail information as possible. The software application may query the user for specific details through an interactive application. For example, the user may access certain user input screens which allow easy selection of items from lists which describe any or all of: Victim information, Suspect information, Suspect vehicle information, Victim vehicle information, Victims injury information, Suspect weapons information, and/or Fire information. This list is exemplary and is not meant to be inclusive of all of the information that may be entered using the software application. [0089] In certain embodiments, the buddies and/or user's within a predefined distance (see box 120 of FIG. 1) who receive a message in response to an alert signal (see 106 of FIG. 1) may be asked to answer the questions indicated above to better define the emergency.

[0090] In certain embodiments, the central server may send messages to the software application running on the user mobile device. In such messages, the user may be asked to answer several questions in the form of a survey (i.e., a push notification). For example, the survey may be sent out at random times to all of, or a random selection of, the users of the software application to address the security needs of a campus. Questions may be posed to asses certain social norms regarding domestic violence, such as, 1) Does your partner hurt you (hit, punch, slap, etc.)?, 2) Does your partner have explosive temper / mood swings over little things?, 3) Does your partner criticize your friends / family?

[0091] Similar surveys may be used to assess the level of street harassment: Do you see groups of people hanging out on the streets? What are their actions? (teasing, catcalling, etc.). Further, push notifications may be used as rewards program questions: 1) Please check below the correct location of the campus health system, 2) Please check the correct location of the Title IX coordinator, name, and office location.

[0092] In certain embodiments of the software application running on the user mobile device, a user may send a request for assistance when a heightened need for security is sensed. For example, is a user needs to walk home late at night, the user may send a request for a "safe walk" volunteer to accompany the user on the walk. The volunteers may be selected from a friends list, or from a list of users who have volunteered to assist those in need.

[0093] In various embodiments, the alert signal may be sent to any of a campus or university police department, a city or state police department, a 911 call center, or a security force associated with a single building or community or work site.

[0094] While the presently disclosed systems and devices has predominantly been discussed with reference to use as a deterrent to a criminal act, or to more quickly signal for help during or after becoming the target of a criminal act, the personal safety system disclosed herein may also be useful in the event of a traumatic health situation or accident. For example, the system disclosed herein may be used to signal for help in the event of an epileptic or diabetic seizure, or if the user is incapacitated due to a personal injury such as a fall. In certain embodiments, the software application may respond differently to different buttons, different numbers of button pushes, or different combinations of buttons of sections on a user interface. Such different responses may indicate different types of alerts, such as an alert corresponding to a criminal or personal safety event or an alert corresponding to a health event. In this way, the response may be more tailored to the needs of the requestor.

[0095] Furthermore, the central server 102 may be local to the predetermined responder pool, such as at the campus police department, or may be housed at an external location, such as a data center. Software on the central server 102 may monitor the incoming alert messages and pop up a window/message on a display panel or mobile device of a dispatcher or responder, or may send an audible signal to a responder mobile device 104. Further, the software on the central server 102 may map the location of the user mobile device 100 which has sent the alert signal 106 which includes a GPS location, and thus map the location of the user in need. Such mapping may be done using any know mapping service, such as google maps, and may provide an exact location.

[0096] Data stored from such alert signals received at the central server 102 may provide for future monitoring, such as the increased police presence at specific locations and at specific times, based on accumulated crime statistics.

[0097] Security of items

[0098] Embodiments of the presently disclosed invention may be used for monitoring certain items such as, for example, laptops, bikes, etc. In such embodiments, the wireless alert device may include a tiny light sensor. Further, if the wireless alert device is enclosed in a slate, a small hole may be provided in the slate through which such a light sensor may sense light. When this slate with the small hole is attached to an item, such as a laptop covering up the hole, the light sensor won't detect any light. As such, if a student leaves their laptop at a desk while getting a coffee or going restroom, they may have a means to monitor the laptop. That is, with a tiny slate device having a light sensor embedded which is BLE enabled, the slate together with laptop continuously communicates to the student's mobile device as long as he/she is within 50 meters of the laptop. When either the laptop loses the connection or the slate has been allegedly removed from the laptop, an alert message will be sent to student mobile for possible laptop theft. [0099] In a similar manner, the same tiny slate may be attached to a bike. When a bike is stolen, if the slate can talk to nearby mobile app users, it can trigger an alert message to a user's mobile app letting know the stolen bike's location.

[00100] The instant nature of the signal leads to improved response times by the responding party (the campus police force) and instant reporting of a crime. And finally, since the wireless alert device is carried by the user (student) close at hand, such as in a pocket or on the wrist, the alert message may be sent out instantly. This may allow certain crimes to be averted altogether, and may provide for identification and capture of the perpetrator.

[00101] One or more of the methods embodied herein include a computer program product in a computer readable medium or containing computer readable code such that a series of steps are performed when the computer readable code is executed on a computing device such as the mobile devices of the user and/or responder, and the central server. In some implementations, certain steps of the methods are combined, performed simultaneously or in a different order, or perhaps omitted, without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, while the method steps are described and illustrated in a particular sequence, use of a specific sequence of steps is not meant to imply any limitations on the invention. Changes may be made with regards to the sequence of steps without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Use of a particular sequence is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

[00102] As will be further appreciated, the processes in embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using any combination of software, firmware or hardware. As a preparatory step to practicing the invention in software, the programming code (whether software or firmware) will typically be stored in one or more machine readable storage mediums such as fixed (hard) drives, diskettes, optical disks, magnetic tape, semiconductor memories such as ROMs, PROMs, etc., thereby making an article of manufacture (or computer program product) in accordance with the invention. The article of manufacture containing the programming code is used by either executing the code directly from the storage device, by copying the code from the storage device into another storage device such as a hard disk, RAM, etc., or by transmitting the code for remote execution using transmission type media such as digital and analog communication links. The methods of the invention may be practiced by combining one or more machine-readable storage devices containing the code according to the present invention with appropriate processing hardware to execute the code contained therein. An apparatus for practicing the invention could be one or more processing devices and storage systems containing or having network access to program(s) coded in accordance with the invention.

[00103] Thus, it is important that while an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is described in the context of a fully functional computer (server) system with installed (or executed) software and mobile devices, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the software aspects of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention are capable of being distributed as a computer program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of media used to actually carry out the distribution. By way of example, a non-exclusive list of types of media, includes recordable type (tangible) media such as floppy disks, thumb drives, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, DVDs, and transmission type media such as digital and analogue communication links.

[00104] While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular system, device or component thereof to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method for emergency signaling, the method comprising:

receiving an initiation interaction from a user at a user mobile device;

activating a software application running on the user mobile device in response to the initiation interaction;

sending, by the software application running on the user mobile device, a data packet to a central server via a mobile communications network, wherein the data packet includes at least a current location of the user mobile device; and

sending, by the central server, an alert request to one or more responder mobile devices via a mobile communications network, wherein the alert request comprises at least the current location of the user mobile device.

2. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the initiation interaction comprises depressing a power button on the user mobile device at least two times, shaking the user mobile device in a certain pattern, speaking a verbal code, or depressing the volume button in a certain pattern.

3. The method according to Claim 1, wherein the initiation interaction comprises depressing a power button on the user mobile device four times.

4. The method according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising:

before sending the data packet to the central server,

providing, by the software application running on the user mobile device, a query to cancel the alert signal on the user mobile device, wherein if the query remains unanswered for a first time length, the data packet is sent to the central server.

5. The method according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising:

after activating the software application;

recording audio information for at a first time length.

6. The method according to Claims 4 or 5, wherein the first time length comprises thirty seconds.

7. The method according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising:

sending, by the central server, an alert message to a list of contact mobile devices via a mobile communications network, wherein the list of contact mobile devices is selected by the user and includes contact information for other user mobile devices running the software application.

8. The method according to any of the preceding Claims, further comprising:

storing, by the software application running on the user mobile device, a list of friends selected by the user, wherein the list of friends includes contact information for other user mobile devices running the software application.

9. The method according to Claim 8, further comprising:

recording, by the software application running on the user mobile device, a list of proximate friends, wherein the list of proximate friends comprises users selected from the list of friends encountered within a first proximity distance within a specified time; and

sending, by the central server, an alert message via a mobile communications network to the mobile devices of one or more proximate friends.

10. The method according to Claim 9, wherein sending an alert message to the mobile devices of one or more proximate friends comprises:

sending an alert message to proximate friends encountered within 24 hours, or sending an alert message to six most recently encountered proximate friends.

1 1. The method according to Claim 10, wherein the first proximity distance is a distance detectable by Bluetooth Low Energy communication.

12. The method according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the initiation interaction comprises:

depressing a button on a wireless alert device, wherein the wireless alert device comprises: a housing defining an interior cavity; a first transmitter contained within the interior cavity, wherein the first transmitter is configured to wirelessly communicate data to the user mobile device; and a triggering mechanism operable to actuate the first transmitter.

13. The method according to Claim 12, wherein the wireless alert device is wirelessly matchable to the user mobile device.

14. A mobile alert system comprising:

a user software application running on at least one user mobile device and configured to: receive an initiation signal from the at least one user mobile device, and

send an alert message comprising at least the current location of the at least one user mobile device;

an alert database running on a central server, the central server operable to bi-directionally communicate with the at least one user mobile device to receive the alert message; and a responder software application running on at least one responder mobile device and configured to:

receive the alert signal from the central server, and

send an response signal to the central server when a location of the responder mobile device is within a first distance to the current location of the at least one user mobile device.

15. The system according to Claim 14, wherein the first distance is a distance detectable by Bluetooth Low Energy communication.

16. The system according to any of Claims 14 to 15, wherein the communication between the server and the at least one user device and/or the at least one responder mobile device comprises one or more of an internet, intranet, and cellular network.

17. The system according to any of Claims 14 to 16, wherein the alert message comprises one or more of video, audio, image, text, data in encrypted form, and/or data in unencrypted form.

18. The system according to any of Claims 14 to 17, wherein the responder mobile device comprises one or more of a mobile device, a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, and an internet television, and at least one of the one or more responder devices and a responder login is registered with the system.

19. The system according to any of Claims 14 to 18, wherein the initiation signal comprises depressing a power button on the user mobile device at least two times, shaking the user mobile device in a certain pattern, speaking a verbal code, or depressing the volume button in a certain pattern.