System and method for distributed messaging among members of a community

Abstract

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a user may receive various information via a personal electronic device (“PED”), based in part on the individuals or contacts with whom the user associates and based in part on the activities, events, or locations with which the user has affiliated. In certain embodiments, the user may receive notifications to the user's PED without preselecting contacts, activities, events or locations. In other embodiments, the user may receive notifications relating to any one of the contacts, activities, events or locations that the user has preselected. Systems and associated methods for implementing and practicing the present disclosure are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer program product, including computer executable instructions stored onto a computer readable medium which, when executed by a user of a personal electronic device (PED), causes the PED to perform a method of sharing information with other user-selected PEDs that also utilize the computer program product, the computer program product comprising:
 executable instructions for the user to define the user-selected PEDs;   executable instructions that enable the PED of the user to receive information from the user-selected PEDs; and   executable instructions that enable the user to send information to the user-selected PEDs,   wherein the user can initiate the executable instruction to send information, whereby specific information of choice is sent from the user's PED to each of the user-selected PEDs and when any of the user-selected PEDs initiate the executable instruction to send information, the executable instructions to receive information, enable the PED of the user to receive the information sent.   
     
     
         2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 executable instructions that enable the user of the PED to select at least one public information provider (PIP); and   executable instructions that enable the user of the PED to receive information from the at least one PIP, wherever the PIP transmits information, wherein each of the user-selected PEDs also receive the information transmitted by the at least one PIP.   
     
     
         3 . The computer program product of  claim 2 , further comprising executable instructions that enable the user of the PED to select at least one geographic area of interest, wherein when any user-selected PED and PIP transmits information, the user's PED and the remaining user-selected PEDs receiving the transmitted information. 
     
     
         4 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , further comprising executable instructions that enable the user to view information received from the user-selected PEDs in a single display page of the computer program product on the PED of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the information sent from user-selected PEDs is one or more of emergency information, sighting information, and post information. 
     
     
         6 . A system for sharing information between a user and members of a community comprising:
 a plurality of personal electronic devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic devices is associated with at least one of each member of the community;   at least one public information provider comprising a notification system for sending information to the individual and the members of the community; and   computer executable instructions stored onto a computer readable medium located on each of the plurality of personal electronic devices and on each of the notification systems,   wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise:   executable instructions for the user to define the members of the community;   executable instructions for the user to define the at least one public information provider;   executable instructions that enable the personal electronic device of the user to receive information from the personal electronic devices of the members of the community, and from the at least one public information provider notification system; and   executable instructions that enable the user to send information to the personal electronic devices of the members of the community.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a wristband, wherein the wristband comprises an SOS button and sends an SOS distress signal to the personal electronic device of the user when the user presses the SOS button, and wherein the personal electronic device of the user relays an alert to the personal electronic devices of the members of the community when the personal electronic device of the user receives the SOS distress signal from the wristband. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a home siren capable of receiving information from the user, wherein the executable instructions further comprise executable instructions that enable the user to send a siren command to the home siren, and wherein the home siren emits a loud sound after receiving a siren command from the user. 
     
     
         9 . A method for sharing information between a user and members of a community comprising:
 identifying a plurality of personal electronic devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic devices is associated with at least one of each member of the community;   providing at least one public information provider comprising a notification system for sending information to the individual and the members of the community;   programming computer executable instructions onto a computer readable medium located on each of the plurality of personal electronic devices and on each of the notification systems; and   utilizing the computer executable instructions to enable each of the following:   the user can define the members of the community;   the user can initiate sharing of information with the members of the community;   the user can receive information shared by any member of the community; and   the user and each member of the community can receive information transmitted by the at least one public information provider.