Missing child reporting, tracking and recovery method and system

Abstract

A method and system for marshaling resources needed to search for a missing child, declaring a missing child incident, coordinating a search for the missing child, tracking the progress of the search, locating the missing child, and recovering the missing child.

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         36 . A System Device Software method stored in a processing system of at least one of a Guardian communications device, a Responder communications device, and a system server connected to and in electrical communication with a communications network that is in wireless communication with the Guardian communications device and the Responder communications device, for initiating, tracking, and coordinating a search, location, and recovery of a missing child, where the method comprises:
 collecting pre-incident profile data, identifying information, and preference data of children under care of a Guardian, and of trusted parties who may be enlisted as Responders in the search;   declaring a missing child incident for general publication to one or more of the Responders, public media, law enforcement, and search and rescue service providers;   verifying availability of the trusted parties to serve as the Responders in the search;   enlisting as the Responders available ones of the trusted parties whose credentials are verified;   sharing one or more of the pre-incident profile data, the identifying information, and the preference data with the Responders;   initiating the search for the missing child within a geographical area about a location of the missing child incident;   tracking progress of the search through communication with one or more of the Responders, the search and rescue service providers, and the law enforcement;   coordinating efforts of one or more of the Responders, the search and rescue service providers, and the law enforcement, to achieve a high probability of success in locating the missing child; and   upon locating the missing child, coordinating recovery of the missing child for return to the Guardian.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein one or more of the Guardian communications device and the Responder communications device are media devices. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A System Device Software method stored in a processing system of at least one of a Guardian communications device, a Responder communications device, and a system server connected to and in electrical communication with a communications network that is in wireless communication with the Guardian communications device and the Responder communications device, for initiating, tracking, and coordinating a search, location, and recovery of a missing child, where the method comprises:
 collecting pre-incident profile data, identifying information, and preference data of children under care of a Guardian, and of trusted parties who may be enlisted as Responders in the search;   declaring a missing child incident for general publication to one or more of the Responders, public media, law enforcement providers, and search and rescue service providers;   collecting incident data from bystanders of a missing child incident;   verifying availability of the trusted parties to serve as the Responders in the search;   enlisting as the Responders available ones of the trusted parties whose credentials are verified;   sharing one or more of the pre-incident profile data, the identifying information, and the preference data with the Responders;   initiating the search for the missing child within a geographical area about a location of the missing child incident;   tracking progress of the search through communication with one or more of the Responders, the search and rescue service providers, and the law enforcement providers;   coordinating efforts of one or more of the Responders, the search and rescue service providers, and the law enforcement providers, to achieve a high probability of success in locating the missing child; and   upon locating the missing child, coordinating recovery of the missing child for return to the Guardian.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein upon locating the missing child, the step of coordinating recovery of the missing child is to guide the Guardian to a location of the missing child. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of enlisting as the Responders available ones of the trusted parties whose credentials are verified includes the step of screening the credentials to avoid enlisting sex offenders, felons, and criminals. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of enlisting includes one or more of verifying location, verifying availability, verifying the identifying information, and reviewing the pre-incident profile data and preference data of the trusted parties and the bystanders to determine their suitability to serve as one of the Responders 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of coordinating includes a step of escalating scope of the search by adding as needed service providers including the law enforcement providers, the search and rescue service providers, and medical service providers to protect and care for the missing child. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of coordinating includes a step of escalating an assessment of risk of danger to the missing child and alerting one or more of the law enforcement providers and the Responders as well as other participants in the search. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of coordinating includes escalating scope of the search by adding resources including one or more of medical vehicles, air planes, helicopters, and all-terrain vehicles. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , further including an Incident Coordinator process for automatically storing the pre-incident profile data, the identifying information, and the preference data, for providing photo update reminders to the Guardian of the missing child, and for tracking and coordinating the search and the recovery. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of coordinating includes communicating with the GPS satellite system to determine latitude and longitude of one or more of the missing child incident, the Guardian, the Responders, and the bystanders during the search, and of the missing child upon being found. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of declaring includes communicating with one or more of the public media, the law enforcement providers, and the search and rescue service providers by way of an Internet connection with plural computer systems. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of coordinating recovery includes determining identity and location of the missing child and of one of the plural Responders who found the missing child, determining location of the Guardian, and providing instructions to perform one of either returning the missing child to the Guardian, or guiding the Guardian to the missing child. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one system server performs functions of an Incident Coordinator. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the communications network is comprised of an Internet. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the Guardian communications device and the at least one Responder communications device are media devices. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 39  above, wherein the step of declaring a missing child incident is for general publication only to one or more of the Responders. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the step of declaring a missing child incident is for general publication only to the public media, the law enforcement providers, and the search and rescue service providers. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the Guardian communications device and the at least one Responder communications device performs functions of an Incident Coordinator. 
     
     
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