US6404880B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for delivering critical information
Assignee: WSOU Investments LLC
•
Filing: 1999-12-24
•
Granted: 2002-06-11
•
Expires: 2019-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for providing subscriber alerts that warn the subscriber to severe weather and traffic conditions is provided wherein the subscriber may receive the alerts on a cellular phone, on a public switched telephone network phone (PSTN), on a pager, or by e-mail. Additionally, the subscriber may receive wakeup and reminder calls according to his or her subscriber profile If a defined weather condition is occurring or is about to occur in a defined zone, for example, or if a specified traffic condition is occurring on the defined traffic artery the subscriber receives alerts as specified in a subscriber profile stored within a server coupled to an intelligent network (IN) type of PSTN. A server, e.g., an SCP or IP, generates signaling to prompt an autodialer to dial a call to the subscriber and an IVR to play the select message. With respect to the wakeup and reminder services, the IVR contains a list of recordings in celebrity voices that serve to remind or wakeup the subscriber at a designated time. To generate the various types of alerts, a plurality of weather sensor systems are coupled to the IP or to the SCP to provide weather information thereto. Additionally, a plurality of traffic sensors are coupled to deliver traffic flow information to the SCP or IP. The types of weather sensing systems included Doppler Radar and Satellite based systems. the types of Traffic flow monitoring sensors include radar and infrared speed measuring devices as well as passive flow measuring devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Gilman R. Stevens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/2866; H04L67/30; H04L67/306; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/432; H04M3/487; H04M3/4872; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/2016; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/12; H04M2207/20; H04M7/00; H04M7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for providing critical information to a subscriber, comprising: a service control point (SCP) for maintaining subscriber profiles wherein the subscriber profiles define at least one of the weather warning, traffic warning and wakeup and reminder alert services; and a sensor coupled to the SCP by way of a communication network for providing sensor information from which the SCP generates alerts according to parameters stored within the subscriber profiles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for providing critical information to a subscriber, comprising: a service control point (SCP) for maintaining subscriber profiles wherein the subscriber profiles define at least one of the weather warning, traffic warning and wakeup and reminder alert services; and a sensor coupled to the SCP by way of a communication network for providing sensor information from which the SCP generates alerts according to parameters stored within the subscriber profiles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a weather sensing system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises a satellite based weather sensing system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the sensor comprises a Doppler Radar weather sensing system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a traffic flow sensing system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the traffic flow sensing system comprises a radar based speed measuring device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the traffic flow sensing system comprises an infrared based speed measuring device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the traffic flow sensing system comprises a passive flow rate calculating device that determines the number of vehicles that pass a defined point in a specified period of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
A telecommunication network, comprising: a service control point (SCP) including: a processor for executing computer instructions; and a store for storing computer instructions, the store being coupled to the processor, wherein the computer instructions include logic for defining a subscriber profile, the subscriber profile defining specified events, and wherein the computer instructions include logic to generate an alert to the subscriber when the specified events occur; and an autodialer coupled to the SCP for dialing a subscriber number to generate connections to at least one of a pager transmission center, a wireless network cellular phone or a landline phone; circuitry for generating and transmitting text messages to the pager transmission center and for inserting text in an e-mail generator; and circuitry for communicating over the internet to send e-mail messages to an IP router.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
A telecommunication network, comprising: a service control point (SCP) including: a processor for executing computer instructions; and a store for storing computer instructions, the store being coupled to the processor, wherein the computer instructions include logic for defining a subscriber profile, the subscriber profile defining specified events, and wherein the computer instructions include logic to generate an alert to the subscriber when the specified events occur; and an autodialer coupled to the SCP for dialing a subscriber number to generate connections to at least one of a pager transmission center, a wireless network cellular phone or a landline phone; circuitry for generating and transmitting text messages to the pager transmission center and for inserting text in an e-mail generator; and circuitry for communicating over the internet to send e-mail messages to an IP router.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The telecommunication network of claim 9 further comprising an integrated voice response (IVR) system for playing messages to the subscriber, the IVR being coupled to the SCP.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The telecommunication network of claim 10 further comprising an SSP for routing and coupling the IVR to a subscriber phone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The telecommunication network of claim 10 further comprising an SSP for routing and coupling the IVR to a wireless network for calling a subscriber cellular phone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The telecommunication network of claim 10 further comprising an SSP for routing and delivering a text message to a pager by way of a pager network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The telecommunication network of claim 10 further comprising an SSP for routing and delivering a text message to an e-mail account by way of an internet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
85 words
A telecommunication system for delivering wakeup and reminder alerts, comprising: a server comprising logic to generate an alert according to a subscriber profile wherein the server includes circuitry for generating messaging in pager, cellular phone, landline phone and e-mail formats; an integrated voice response system coupled to the server including recorded messages for playing select reminders in the voice of a select celebrity; and a text generator for generating text for message generator to one of a paging system or e-mail message over an internet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
A telecommunication system for delivering wakeup and reminder alerts, comprising: a server comprising logic to generate an alert according to a subscriber profile wherein the server includes circuitry for generating messaging in pager, cellular phone, landline phone and e-mail formats; an integrated voice response system coupled to the server including recorded messages for playing select reminders in the voice of a select celebrity; and a text generator for generating text for message generator to one of a paging system or e-mail message over an internet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
A communication system for providing alerts, comprising: an SCP having a subscriber profile; an autodialer for dialing one of a subscriber phone number or pager number according to the subscriber profile; a weather sensing system; a traffic sensing system; circuitry for generating text messages for insert in alerts transmitted to a pager in a paging message or to an e-mail account in an e-mail message; circuitry for determining when to generate a wakeup/reminder call to one of a pager, a landline phone or a cellular phone; and an integrated voice response system for playing one of a weather warning, a traffic warning or a wakeup or reminder message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
108 words
A communication system for providing alerts, comprising: an SCP having a subscriber profile; an autodialer for dialing one of a subscriber phone number or pager number according to the subscriber profile; a weather sensing system; a traffic sensing system; circuitry for generating text messages for insert in alerts transmitted to a pager in a paging message or to an e-mail account in an e-mail message; circuitry for determining when to generate a wakeup/reminder call to one of a pager, a landline phone or a cellular phone; and an integrated voice response system for playing one of a weather warning, a traffic warning or a wakeup or reminder message.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-10 | 2005-12-10 | 2006-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-10 | 2009-12-10 | 2010-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-10 | 2013-12-10 | 2014-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |