Method and system for rapid dissemination of public announcements

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for disseminating urgent public announcements over an IP-based network. One or a plurality of Internet- or Intranet-connected servers receive and store data identifying particular geographic locations to current announcements. The servers identify IP addresses of users making URL requests or requests for target applications (an access point by which a network-connectable mobile device is connected to an Internet- or Intranet-connected server), determine a location for each user from the user's IP address (or access point), and determine whether an IP address (or access point) of a user corresponds to a location for which an announcement has been posted. If the user is identified to a location for which a current announcement is available, the announcement is displayed to the user. The announcement may be displayed by redirecting the user to a web page containing the announcement. Alternatively, the announcement may be displayed in a pop-up window or in a banner on a web page requested by said user. A banner displaying such an announcement may incorporate a link to permit the user to click through to a web page containing a more detailed version of the announcement.

1 . A method for disseminating public announcements over an IP-based network, wherein there is
 one or a plurality of Internet- or Intranet-connected servers performing the steps of:
 receiving and storing data identifying current announcements and particular locations to which they relate; 
 identifying either
 IP addresses of users making requests, for either a URL or a target application, to an Internet- or Intranet-connected server, or 
 an access point by which a network-connectable mobile device is connected to an Internet- or Intranet-connected server; 
 
 determining a location for each of said users from either said IP addresses or said access point; 
 determining whether an IP address or an access point of a user is an IP address or an access point corresponding to a location for which an announcement has been posted; and 
 displaying said announcement to said user. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said announcement is displayed to said user by redirecting the user to a web page containing said announcement. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said announcement is displayed in a pop-up window. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said announcement is displayed to said user in a banner on a web page requested by said user. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said banner incorporates a link to permit said user to click through to a web page containing a more detailed version of the announcement displayed in the banner. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of using a router to identify IP addresses or access points of users making requests to an Internet or Intranet-connected server. 
   
   
       7 . A system for disseminating public announcements over an IP-based network, comprised of
 one or a plurality of Internet- or Intranet-connected servers with:
 means to receive and store data identifying current announcements and particular locations to which they relate; 
 means to identify either
 IP addresses of users making requests, for either a URL or a target application, to an Internet- or Intranet-connected server, or 
 an access point to which a network-connectable mobile device is connected to an Internet- or Intranet-connectable server; 
 
 means to determine a location for each of said users from said IP addresses or said access point; 
 means to determine whether an IP address or an access point of a user is an IP address or an access point corresponding to a location for which an announcement has been posted; and 
 means to display said announcement to said user. 
   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said means to display said announcement redirects the user to a web page containing said announcement. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said means to display said announcement comprises a pop-up window. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said means to display said announcement displays said announcement in a banner on a web page requested by said user. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said banner incorporates a link to permit said user to click through to a web page containing a more detailed version of the announcement displayed in the banner. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a router employed to identify IP addresses or access points of users making requests to an Internet- or Intranet-connected server. 
   
   
       13 . A network-based warning or public announcement system, comprising:
 a plurality of servers that are selectively connectable to a plurality of clients, each of said plurality of clients capable of providing at least one of said plurality of servers with a network address, said plurality of servers being connected by a network;   one or more tables which correlate location information for one or more of said plurality of clients with said network address; and   a source of a warning or public announcement which electronically provides a warning or public announcement to at least a portion of said plurality of clients, without action being taken by said portion of said plurality of clients, using at least a portion of said plurality of servers and at least one of said one or more tables based on said location information.   
   
   
       14 . The network-based warning or public announcement system of  claim 13 , wherein said warning or public announcement electronically provided by said source causes at least one of a visual, textual or audible signal to be reproduced at at least one client of said plurality of clients. 
   
   
       15 . The network-based warning or public announcement system of  claim 13 , wherein said one or more tables and said plurality of servers function to transmit said warning or public announcement only to a select portion of said plurality of clients based on said location information. 
   
   
       16 . The network-based warning or public announcement system of  claim 13 , wherein said network address is an IP address of said client. 
   
   
       17 . The network-based warning or public announcement system of  claim 13 , wherein said network address is a GPS coordinate of said client. 
   
   
       18 . The network-based warning or public announcement system of  claim 13 , wherein said network address is the identity of an access point to which said client is identified.