CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 62/237,849, filed October 6, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the art of public warnings and, more particularly, to a method of alerting the public in certain geographic areas of the existence of a dangerous law enforcement pursuit situation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the United States there is an average of one death daily from high speed law enforcement pursuit situations. In the time period of 2000-2011, 218 people were killed in police pursuits in Australia. In the United Kingdom pursuit deaths have tripled in four years. On average, police response caused crashes kill two innocent bystanders each week. In addition to this complication, the use of sirens is largely ineffective because only a small percentage of drivers can hear or determine the direction of the sirens. Clearly, a better warning system is needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the process of the method of this invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a housing and controls for a central processing unit in accordance with this invention. Figure 3 illustrates the communication between a personal electronic device and a central processing unit within a housing.

Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the sequence of events of the method in accordance with this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a method for automatically providing instant emergency alerts through appropriately programed handheld devices to warn of a high speed pursuit situation within a given geographic area. The notification gives warning so that the population within the pursuit area may stay out of harm's way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At the outset the following U.S. Patents are incorporated by reference in their entirety:

U.S. Patent No. 8914012

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0172897

U.S. Patent No. 8265938

U.S. Patent No. 6684155

U.S. Patent No. 8756248

U.S. Patent No. 6630892

In accordance with of this invention, a notification system is activated utilizing existing technology to warn individuals within the relevant geographic area of a high speed pursuit situation.

This invention provides methods, systems and processes of readable and/or audible media for the generation of digital alert notifications to remote handheld personal electronic devices (PED)s. While the term PED normally refers to handheld devices or smart phones, as used herein it also includes laptops with remote wireless capabilities including GPS. The digitized alert is then transmitted by a server for broadcast to programed handheld devices that communicate with the server for automatic audio announcement of the digitized alert.

The digital alert notification indicative of the pursuit situation is generated and converted into an alert through specific towers of a cellular communication network in the geographic area for distribution of a digital alert notification and an automatic audio announcement of the digitized alert to all enabled handheld devices. The alert may be a particular noise (ping) or a voice. Geofencing software deployed in the server is utilized to set a preselected radius for broadcast in communication with specific towers in the geographic area.

If a current call is taking place, one or more of the handheld devices can be automatically interrupted and ordered to push the digital alert notification through each of the devices for automatic audible playing of the message.

This invention provides assistance for allowing individuals within a selected geographic area to receive information regarding vehicle pursuit situations. This is brought about by an app for use on PEDs including handheld devices and several included technologies.

An alert system deployed on a server is utilized to enable programed handheld smart phones to be notified when a pursuit situation is being conducted in their immediate area, regardless of state or region. The alert system is similar to a tornado alert and moves

geographically as the pursuit evolves. The technology disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8265938 and U.S. Publication No. 2015/0172897 are particularly relevant in this regard. A second area of technology involves transponders in police vehicles pursuant to local and federal laws. The existing software for PED's apps and transponders is utilized within the subject invention. Other technologies which may be utilized to broadcast the pursuit alerts of this invention include distributive networks such as that available from WhatsApp. It is also possible to distribute a separate app specifically designed for receiving pursuit alert push notifications within a particular geographical area. Geofencing technology may also be utilized in establishing a radius for pursuit alert push notifications. The wireless emergency alert system of a municipality may also be used.

GPS is utilized to update the location of the danger situation as pursuit develops. Such technology exists within U.S. Patent No. 6630892 and U.S. Patent No. 8756248 which disclose examples of moving notifications through a cell tower in the immediate vicinity to alert handheld device users.

A digital signal transmitted from a PED in a pursuit vehicle activates the server to send a digital alert notification to all enabled handheld devices within the set radius of notification. A subsequent digital signal is transmitted from a PED in a pursuit vehicle that has ended a pursuit or exceeds the set radius activates the server to send another digital alert notification to select enabled handheld devices that the pursuit is out of range. The alert is preferably distinct and sufficiently audible to not require the motorist to read an alert. A separate distinct tone or verbiage may be used for other emergencies with responders in other emergency situations. Comparable existing apps and notifications include Weather Alert, Amber Alert, and Reverse 911 notifications.

The technology of this invention is applicable to emergency vehicles, police non-pursuit emergency response, ambulance and EMS emergency response, as well as rescue squad emergency responses where high speeds are involved.

An administrative officer within a pursuit vehicle has control of a PED utilized to initiate a pursuit alert. The PED within the pursuit vehicle is in wireless communication with a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU activates the PED and/or server through wireless communication. This initiates alert distribution through activation of the PED and/or server. The server distributes the digital alerts to enabled handheld devices. The server receives and stores data pertaining to the location of the PED received from the PED for further utilization, analysis, and other administrative purposes. The server is also programed with geofencing technology so as to define the geographic area for the pursuit alert notifications. Additionally, the server upon receiving activation of a pursuit can be preprogramed to broadcast the appropriate message.

Referring now to Figure 1 where the pursuit alert method of this invention is

schematically illustrated. The environment in which this method is carried out is a law enforcement environment and thus illustrated in Figure 1 is a law enforcement officer 10 who possesses administrator access to a CPU 11. The administrative officer has a PED 12 which can establish a wireless connection with the CPU 11. The PED 12 is wirelessly connected to a server. The server is illustrated as cloud 15. The server may be combined with a government controlled wireless emergency alert system or it may be a distributed network established through existing application technology, for example, WhatsApp. Wireless users 17 within the location of a pursuit possess wireless devices 19 that have downloaded emergency alert notification programs which are enabled to receive digital alert notifications either through a server or a distributed network as discussed above. Upon activation of the CPU 11 by the law enforcement administrator, device users 17 located within an emergency radius 21 will receive digital alert notifications of a law enforcement pursuit nearby.

Referring now to Figure 2, the CPU 11 is housed in a casing 31 having an administrator input switch 33, and a secondary administrator input switch 35 as well as power switch 37. This CPU 11 housed in a casing 31 can have a plurality of switches that may activate different functions within the law enforcement administrator's PED 12. Figure 3 illustrates that the administrative PED 12 is within wireless communication with the CPU within casing 31. Appropriate wireless communication can be provided by existing technology such as Bluetooth® or ZigBee®.

Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the sequence of events upon initiation of a pursuit alert. Initially the CPU is powered on by switch 37. The PED wirelessly connects to the CPU within casing 31. The administrator then initiates the pursuit mode in the CPU by activating switch 33. The GPS within the administrative PED conveys the location data of the pursuit vehicle to the server 15. The server 15 and/or administrative PED 12 derives the preselected radius 21 through programmed software within the server 15 and/or administrative PED 12.

The server 15 and/or administrative PED 12 then generates a digital alert notification to be distributed by the server 15 to programed handheld devices 19 within the preselected radius 21. As the pursuit develops and the pursuit path changes, the server 15 sends out digital alert notifications that either adds or removes handheld devices from the alert radius 21. Optionally, a marker may be dropped along the pursuit path by activating secondary input 35. Such a marker may indicate a location where contraband was jettisoned from the chased vehicle.

As the pursuit ends for one reason or another, the server 15 sends a "pursuit end" notification to all programed handheld users. Additionally, if GPS coordinates of handheld devices 19 are out of range of the predetermined radius 21, a "pursuit end" digital alert notification to all programmed handheld users is sent by server 15. The data regarding the pursuit is then stored within the server 15.

A variety of data regarding a pursuit may be stored within the server 15 and/or PED 12. Examples of useful data include:

The shift hours of the administrator; The number of pursuits within a shift;

The pursuit distance;

Map of the pursuit route;

Markers dropped on the pursuit map;

Speeds reached during the pursuit;

Number of wireless devices receiving the emergency pursuit path; and

GPS coordinates as well as digital compass data.

The administrator can access stored data within the server by a secure login to view a dashboard having such data. As an alternative, the PDA app can also provide access to data by an administrator.

In addition to available distribution networks for emergency alerts, it is preferred that a separate app be installed on wireless user devices within the municipality where the method of this invention is employed. Such apps may be installed upon iOS and Android devices in the usual manner. Push tokens are supplied to handheld users for this purpose. A handheld user receives a push token which then enables the device to upload location data to the distributive network to receive the push notifications and view the proximity of the pursuit.

The invention as described above greatly enhances the safety of populations within the location of a high speed alert by providing instant and real time pursuit information. As the foregoing description is exemplary in nature and not meant to be limiting, the spirit and scope of this invention is set forth in the following appended claims.