User-centric event reporting with follow-up information

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for receiving hazard and event information in a mobile unit and using that information to warn a user of an event or future hazard with reference to the mobile unit's location and/or intended direction of travel. A hazard location algorithm compares a forecast location of each mobile unit with a forecast hazard and transmits a warning to each mobile unit that is predicted to encounter the hazard. As the mobile unit moves, its actual position is updated in an event center, and a revised warning is transmitted to the mobile unit as applicable. Warnings include audio warnings for playback and/or visual warnings for display on the mobile device. Users may also wirelessly report events or hazards to a central server in an event center by sending data to the event center via a wireless communications network. Secondary information may be included, based on the selected event type.

1 . A method for providing information regarding an observed event, comprising: 
 (a) receiving an event type as user input into a mobile data processing device, said event type selected from a constrained set of event types displayed on the mobile data processing device, and wherein the event type identifies a medical condition or injury affecting a person;    (b) determining an event location in proximity to the mobile data processing device;    (c) wirelessly sending from the mobile data processing device to an event center, the event type and the determined event location;    (d) receiving at the mobile data processing device, an input value for a type of secondary information associated with the selected event type; and    (e) wirelessly sending from the mobile data processing device to the event center, the input value for the secondary information.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step (d) the input value of the associated type of secondary information comprises a digital photograph.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises determining the event location based on a GPS-determined location of the mobile data processing device.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a confirmation message from the event center in response to receipt of the information sent in step (c).  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises determining the type of secondary information associated with the event type by looking up the selected event type in a database stored in a memory of the mobile data processing device.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises determining the type of secondary information associated with the event type by receiving the type of secondary information from the event center.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (a) comprises navigating a hierarchy of categories and subcategories and selecting the event type in a last selected subcategory.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the hierarchy of categories comprises a medical category.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises receiving an input value for each of a plurality of types of secondary information, and 
 wherein step (f) comprises sending the input value for each of the plurality of types of secondary information.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises receiving input from a camera.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (c) and (e) occur in a single transmission.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step (d) the input value of the associated type of secondary information comprises a blood pressure.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step (d) the input value of the associated type of secondary information comprises EKG information.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step (d) the input value of the associated type of secondary information comprises blood gas information.  
   
   
       15 . A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       16 . A method for providing information regarding an observed event, comprising: 
 (a) receiving from a mobile data processing device, computer readable data comprising information corresponding to an event visually observed by a user of the mobile data processing device, wherein said computer readable data includes an event type and an event location based on a location of the mobile data processing device, and wherein the event type identifies a medical condition or injury affecting a person;    (b) sending via a data connection to the mobile data processing device a confirmation message in response to receiving the computer readable data in step (a); and    (c) receiving from the mobile data processing device, computer readable data comprising secondary information corresponding to the event type.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said data indicating the event type indicates a medical condition affecting a person in proximity with the mobile data processing device.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein in step (a) the received event location corresponds to a location within an entertainment venue.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein in step (a) the received event location corresponds to a section within the entertainment venue.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein in step (a) the received event location corresponds to a row within the section.  
   
   
       21 . A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the method of  claim 16 .  
   
   
       22 . A handheld data processing device, comprising: 
 a transceiver for sending and receiving data to and from a wireless data communication network;    a display screen;    a processor for executing computer readable instructions stored in a memory of the handheld data processing device;    said memory storing the computer executable instructions, said computer executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the device to perform an event reporting method comprising steps of: 
 (a) determining a present location of the handheld data processing device;  
 (b) displaying on the display screen a geographic map oriented around the present location of the handheld data processing device;  
 (c) displaying a list of a plurality of event categories;  
 (d) receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of categories;  
 (e) displaying a list of a plurality of event types corresponding to the selected category;  
 (f) receiving user input selecting a first event type in the selected category, wherein the first event type identifies a medical condition or injury affecting a person;  
 (g) determining a location corresponding to the first event type based on the present location of the handheld data processing device;  
 (h) sending via the transceiver data corresponding to the first event type and determined location;  
 (i) determining a type of secondary information corresponding to the first event type;  
 (j) receiving an input value for the type of secondary information; and  
 (k) sending via the transceiver the input value for the type of secondary information.  
   
   
   
       23 . The handheld device of  claim 22 , wherein the display screen comprises a touch-sensitive display screen, and step (f) comprises detecting a point on the map touched by a user.