Network-based alert system and method

Abstract

Described is an alert system and method a system and method for alerting nearby network-connected communication devices. The system includes a network-connected victim communication device configured to receive a trigger, and at least one network-connected target communication device configured to receive and provide notification of an alert. The alert management server is communicatively coupled to the network-connected victim communication device and to the at least one network-connected target communication device to receive the trigger from the network-connected victim communication device and to provide the alert to the at least one network-connected target communication device. The alert management server is configured to monitor the network-connected victim communication device for the trigger, receive the trigger from the network-connected victim communication device, create an alert based on the trigger, and send the alert to the at least one network-connected target communication device. A related method of distributing an alert is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for propagating an alert, comprising:
 a network-connected victim communication device comprising a processor, a memory, an input device and a transmitter configured to receive a trigger from a victim user;   at least one network-connected target communication device comprising a processor, a memory and a receiver configured to receive an alert and to provide a notification of the alert to a target user; and   an alert management server communicatively coupled over a network to the network-connected victim communication device and to the at least one network-connected target communication device and configured to receive the trigger from the network-connected victim communication device and to provide the alert to the at least one network-connected target communication device, the alert management server configured to monitor the network-connected victim communication device for the trigger, receive the trigger from the network-connected victim communication device, create an alert based on the trigger, and send the alert to the at least one network-connected target communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a Global Positioning System (GPS) based location is sent when the network-connected victim communication device receives the trigger. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the alert includes a network-connected victim communication device location indicator. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the alert includes a map showing a network-connected victim communication device location. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger includes a media item, the media item being at least one of an audio clip and a video clip. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the alert management server is configured to parse the media item to extract an emergency-identifying criterion, and to include the emergency-identifying criterion in the alert. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger includes an emergency-identifying criterion entered by the victim user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger is an audible statement processed by the network-connected victim communication device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the alert includes a video clip captured by the network-connected victim communication device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the notification is at least one of a visual notification and an audible notification. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network-connected victim communication device comprises an installed application connecting application users to a network-based alert community. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network-connected victim communication device cannot be shut down after the trigger is received until a cancellation is received, the cancellation being at least one of a passcode and a facial scan. 
     
     
         13 . A method of distributing an alert, comprising:
 receiving a trigger from a network-connected victim communication device;   accessing a network-connected victim communication device location;   creating an alert from the trigger and the network-connected victim communication device location; and   communicating an alert to at least one network-connected target communication device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the alert is an ongoing alert, the method further comprising:
 receiving an action completion report from at least one of the network-connected victim communication device and the at least one network-connected target communication device; and   ending the ongoing alert.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the alert includes a video clip. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one target user includes a nearby non-professional user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing an alert to at least one network-connected target communication device includes providing the network-connected victim communication device location to the network-connected target communication device in association with a map. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the alert is an ongoing alert, the method further comprising:
 receiving a shutdown instruction instructing the network-connected victim communication device to shut down;   transitioning the network-connected victim communication device to a possum mode;   receiving an action completion report from at least one of the network-connected victim communication device and the at least one network-connected target communication device; and   ending the ongoing alert.