Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02418671 2008-01-31
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACTIVATING WARNING DEVICES
TECHNICAL FIELD
TECHNICAL FIELD
[l] The present invention relates generally to warning systems. More
particularly, the
invention provides a method and apparatus for remotely activating one or more
warning
devices that may be dispersed across a geographic area.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[2] Tornadoes cause widespread damage each year in the United States. In order
to
help minimize loss of life, many municipalities have installed tornado sirens
that are
activated when an approaching tornado is detected. Federal Signal Corporation
of
University Park, Illinois, manufactures various sirens and controllers that
can be activated
when authorities determine that an emergency is imminent. SafetyCom
Incorporated of
Little Rock, Arkansas, similarly provides various sirens to warn residents of
emergencies.
Other systems are exemplified by U.S. patents 4,812,825 ("Tornado Warning
System")
and 6,034,608 ("Tornado Alarm System").
[3] Although tornado sirens allow residents to take shelter in the event of an
impending tornado, the means by which the sirens are activated sometimes
results in
alarming residents who are in no real danger of being affected by a tornado.
Tornado
sirens are often activated on a county-wide basis, thus alarming many
residents who are
far from the projected tornado path, but who happen to be within the county or
predetermined geographic zone that is associated with an impending tornado
risk.
Alternatively, in some communities, emergency operators manually activate
individual
sirens based on a visual comparison of weather displays (or text descriptions
of displays
provided by the National Weather Service) with geographic maps showing the
location of
sirens in the area serviced by the emergency center.
[4] In the latter situation, errors can arise based on the need to visually
compare and
judge distances and features on two different displays. Moreover, where only a
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generalized tornado warning is received, employees must use their discretion
in
determining whether to activate a given siren. The time required to translate
a given
warning into siren activation signals and the lack of meteorological training
of many
municipal or county employees can result in errors, delays, and false alarms.
[5] Another problem relates to reliance on radio frequency transmission paths
to
activate individual sirens. Sirens are typically activated from a central
control unit (e.g., a
county-wide unit) by transmitting radio control signals over police radio
frequencies,
which can sometimes become so crowded or jammed during a weather emergency
that
radio control signals may not be received. It can also be difficult to
determine whether a
given siren has actually been activated after a signal has been sent.
[6] It is expensive for municipalities to pay for employees to monitor and
respond to
tornado threats by activating sirens. For a small county with a few sirens,
the job function
may be shared by an emergency 911 operator or a fire marshal, who often have
other
duties and job responsibilities. Counties or cities often cannot afford full-
time
meteorologists to pinpoint the likely path of a tornado and communicate that
information
to a county emergency center, which must then compare the warning information
to a
map showing the location of various sirens within the county or city. Two
adjacent
counties may have separate, incompatible warning systems that are operated by
different
people and activated on the basis of different information.
[7] In addition to tornados, other meteorological and non-meteorological
conditions
can present substantial threats to a community as well. These include other
meteorological phenomena such as flash floods, lightning strikes, and other
dangerous
meteorological conditions, as well as non-meteorological conditions such as a
threat from
a release of a hazardous material, volcanic eruption, pollution, and the like.
[8] The aforementioned problems give rise to the solutions provided by the
present
invention.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[9] The invention provides a system and method for activating warning devices,
such
as tornado sirens, in conjunction with a meteorological map display that shows
the actual
and/or predicted path of a tornado or other meteorological event. In one
variation of the
invention, a user can manually select one or more tornado warning devices by
drawing a
box or other encircling indicator around icons on a computer screen each
representing the
location of a tornado warning device. The selection can be made on a computer
screen
that simultaneously shows both the meteorological event and the location of
each warning
device. In another variation, activation can occur automatically by computer
based on a
comparison of a tornado location with the location of one or more warning
devices.
[10] A central weather prediction center can be remotely coupled to a
plurality of
tornado warning devices in dispersed geographic regions (e.g., different
cities, counties,
or states), thus avoiding the need for persons located in each of those
regions to be
responsible for activating sirens in the particular region. Remote activation
can occur
over telephone lines, packet switched networks, the Internet, frame relay
networks, and
the like.
[11] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a method
of remotely activating a selected one or more of a plurality of warning
devices,
comprising the steps of: (1) at a location of a hazardous event, observing
conditions
associated with the hazardous event; (2) from the location of the hazardous
event,
wirelessly transmitting an activation code, wherein the activation code
corresponds to a
specified one of the plurality of warning devices; and (3) in response to
receiving the
activation code, activating the specified one of the plurality of warning
devices; wherein
step (2) comprises the step of using an input device of a handheld computing
device to
select one of the plurality of warning devices.
[lla] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
computer-implemented method of activating a warning device, comprising the
steps of:
(1) displaying on a computer display device hazardous event information for a
particular
geographic region and displaying on the same display device information
representing the
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geographic location of a plurality of warning devices; (2) selecting one or
more of the
plurality of warning devices displayed on the computer display device; and (3)
remotely
activating the one or more warning devices selected in step (2).
[llb] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
computer-implemented method of activating a warning device, comprising the
steps of:
(1) at a central location that generates predictions corresponding to
hazardous conditions,
detecting that a hazardous event is likely to strike a given geographic
location; (2) at the
central location, using a computer to compare the location of the hazardous
event to a
plurality of geographically dispersed warning devices located in a geographic
region
different from the central location and selecting one or more of the
geographically
dispersed warning devices in response to the comparison; and (3) remotely
activating the
selected one or more geographically dispersed warning devices, wherein step
(2)
comprises the step of using a computer input device to manually encircle a
group of
warning devices displayed on a computer display.
[llc] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
computer-implemented method of activating a warning device, comprising the
steps of:
(1) at a central location that generates predictions corresponding to
hazardous conditions,
detecting that a hazardous event is likely to strike a given geographic
location; (2)at the
central location, using a computer to compare the location of the hazardous
event to a
plurality of geographically dispersed warning devices located in a geographic
region
different from the central location and selecting one or more of the
geographically
dispersed warning devices in response to the comparison; (3) remotely
activating the
selected one or more geographically dispersed warning devices; and (4)
receiving
confirmation from each activated warning device and, in response thereto,
updating a
computer display.
[lld] In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a
computer-implemented method for notifying a remote device, comprising the
steps of (1)
at a central location, receiving hazardous condition information for a
particular
geographic region, (2) selecting one or more of a plurality of remote devices
that are
predicted to be affected by a hazardous event corresponding to the hazardous
condition
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information; and (3) sending alert information to the remote devices selected
in step (2),
wherein step (2) comprises using a computer input device to encircle a
plurality of remote
devices displayed on a display device.
[lle] In accordance with yet still another aspect of the present invention,
there is
provided a computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions
that, when
executed, cause a system comprised of at least one computer to perform a
method for
notifying a remote device, comprising the steps of: (1) at a central location,
receiving
hazardous condition information for a particular geographic region, (2)
selecting one or
more of a plurality of remote devices that are predicted to be affected by a
hazardous
event corresponding to the hazardous condition information; and (3) sending
alert
information to the remote devices selected in step (2), wherein step (2)
comprises using a
computer input device to encircle a plurality of remote devices displayed on a
display
device.
[llf] In accordance with yet still another aspect of the present invention,
there is
provided a data processing system comprising a processor and memory storing
computer
readable instructions that, when executed, cause the system to perform a
method for
notifying a remote device, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving hazardous
condition
information for a particular geographic region, (2) selecting one or more of a
plurality of
remote devices that are predicted to be affected by a hazardous event
corresponding to the
hazardous condition information; and (3) sending alert information to the
remote devices
selected in step (2), wherein step (2) comprises using a computer input device
to encircle
a plurality of remote devices displayed on a display device.
[12] Some aspects of the invention activate warning devices based on non-
meteorological hazardous events, such as a release of hazardous materials, air
pollution,
volcanic eruption, and the like, based on a predicted or known plume
associated with the
affected area.
[13] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[14] FIG. I shows a conventional approach for activating individual warning
devices in a given
geographic region by using a centralized siren activator 101.
[15] FIG. 2A shows a system and method for activating one or more waming
devices in one or
more geographically dispersed areas according to one variation of the
invention.
[16] FIG. 2B shows a system and method for activating one or more warning
devices remotely
through the use of cellular telephones or other wireless devices according to
another variation of the
invention.
[17] FIG. 2C shows a system and method for selecting one or more warning
devices based on a
meteorological display that shows the location of warning devices according to
another variation of
the invention.
[18] FIG. 3 shows one possible computer display and selection method for
selecting a group of
warning devices 309 and activating sirens in the selected group.
[19] FIG. 4 shows steps for selecting and activating warning devices on the
basis of
meteorological data that is displayed on a computer screen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[20] FIG. 1 shows a conventional approach for activating warning devices, such
as tornado
warning sirens. A municipality (e.g., Memphis) typically has a centralized
siren activation unit 101
that is coupled to a plurality of warning devices 102 through 104. The
activation unit 101 may be
located in the basement of a municipal facility (e.g., a police station or
emergency dispatch center).
The activation unit can selectively activate one or more warning devices by
transmitting a radio
frequency signal over an available channel, such as a shared police band.
Activation is performed by
a human, who receives information suggesting that a tomado 105 is headed for
the county. Such
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information may be provided by the National Weather Service, which issues
wamings on a regional
(e.g., county) basis, sometimes including a projected path 106.
[211 FIG. 2A shows a system and method for activating warning devices in one
or more
geographically dispersed areas according to one variation of the invention. As
shown in FIG. 2A,
three different geographically dispersed areas (Memphis, Little Rock, and
Wichita) each include a
plurality of warning devices of the type exemplified by those manufactured by
Federal Signal
Corporation or SafetyCom Inc. Although it is preferred that each device be
activated over a land line
(e.g., a land-based direct line or frame relay line) rather than a radio
frequency channel in order to
provide better assurance of communication quality, the invention is not
limited in this respect.
[221 If telephone activation is used, it may be necessary to modify or
supplement each device with
a telephone receiving control unit that responds to a telephone call and,
through a DTMF sequence,
receives a code that activates the device and provides confirmation that the
device has been
activated. For example, each waming device can be assigned to a distinct
telephone number that
rings to an automated call pick-up unit. The automated pick-up unit answers
the line, responds to a
known activation code (which may include several digits as a security
precaution) and, in response to
detecting the correct activation code, activates the warning device and
transmits an
acknowledgement signal over the telephone line. In one variation, each unit
can be activated by a
human (e.g., by a cellular or conventional telephone dial-in procedure). In
another variation, each
unit can be activated by a computer-controlled siren activator 207 or via long-
distance telephone
lines 212 (including, for example, frame relay lines) from a weather center
200. Alternatively, a
conventional siren activator can be used to activate one or more waming
devices, but the activator is
instructed as to which warning devices(s) to activate from a remote weather
center 200.
[23] As shown in FIG. 2A, two warning devices 201 and 202 are activated from a
siren activator
207 that receives computer instructions via communication lines 212 from a
weather center 200.
Weather center 200 receives meteorological data in the form of radar images
from various radar sites
211 and other information such as reports indicating the current latitude and
longitude of a tornado.
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Additionally, weather reports can be received from one or more "spotters" 214
who actually see a
tornado or tornado-like conditions. In the latter case, each spotter can
provide the latitude and
longitude coordinates of the tomado, or such information can be provided
automatically using a
GPS-equipped device and transmitted to weather center 200.
[24) Weather center 200 monitors weather conditions around various geographic
areas such as
Memphis, Wichita, and Little Rock, and optionally predicts a future path of
tornados that are
detected near any of these areas using conventional meterological techniques.
Weather center 200
also maintains information regarding the positional location (e.g., latitude
and longitude) of each
warning device in each geographic area. In response to detecting that a
tornado is actually or
predicted to be near one or more of the waming devices, weather center 200
transmits activation
signals over the communication lines to the appropriate siren activator and/or
warning devices. In
one embodiment, upon detecting that a weather event (e.g., a tornado) is
actually or predicted to'be a
predetermined or user-selectable distance from a warning device, the waming
device is activated.
[25] The detection and activation can occur automatically by computer (e.g.,
all warning devices
that are determined to be within a given radius of a current or predicted
tomado path), or it can be
done manually through the use of trained meteorologists who render judgments
based on their
experience. In any event, as shown in FIG. 2A, a plurality of different
geographically dispersed
localities can receive tornado activation service from a central weather
center 200, and thus need not
employ personnel to monitor and activate the warning devices in each
jurisdiction. In a preferred
embodiment, each warning device andlor siren activator responds to an
activation signal with a
confirmatory signal confirming that activation has occurred. The confirmed
activation can then be
displayed on a computer display at weather center 200 or at other computer
locations.
[26] In one embodiment, activation information and meteorological information
is transmitted
over telephone lines or the Intemet to municipal authorities in each
jurisdiction to provide
confirmation that action has been taken in response to a tornado threat. The
combination of
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meteorological expertise and prediction facilities at weather center 200 with
remote activation
capabilities provides improved service at reduced cost to the municipalities.
(27] Tornado warnings from the National Weather Service (in the form of county-
wide warnings
and/or specific LAT/LON information) can be used in weather center 200 to
activate regional
waming devices in different geographically dispersed regions. For example, if
the NWS issues a
tornado warning for Memphis and one for Wichita, weather center 200 can
automatically transmit an
activation code to activate all waming devices in those municipalities,
without requiring intervention
by a human operator in those municipalities. Alternatively, if specific
LAT/LON information is
received from the NWS, weather center 200 can activate specific waming devices
in separate
municipalities based on the information, again without requiring employees in
each jurisdiction to
monitor and/or activate sirens.
[281 FIG. 2B shows a system and method for activating one or more warning
devices remotely
through the use of cellular telephones or other wireless devices according to
another variation of the
invention. As shown in FIG. 2B, a siren activator 214 is coupled to a
plurality of warning devices
215 through 217 through telephone lines. Siren activator 214 may comprise a
modified version of a
device manufactured by one of the aforementioned companies that is configured
to receive codes via
telephones (including cellular telephones) indicating which warning device(s)
should be activated.
According to this embodiment, spotters 218 and 223 visually observe a tornado
221 and place a
telephone call to a predetermined telephone number, which responds with an
automated message to
enter an activation code corresponding to one or more sirens. Altematively,
each spotter can enter
his or her latitude and longitude corresponding to the observed or estimated
location of the tomado,
and siren activator 214 activates all warning devices that are within a
certain range of the tornado
location.
[29) In yet another variation, spotters may use a wireless device equipped
with a GPS receiver,
which automatically transmits the spotter's current location at the push of a
button. For example, a
wireless hand-held computing device such as a Palm PilotTm VII manufactured by
the Palm
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Corporation can be used to transmit the user's current location to a wireless
address, telephone
number (e.g., through a cellular telephone antenna 220), or Internet address
along with an activation
code and/or security code. In one embodiment, the hand-held unit displays a
map showing the user's
current location, and has superimposed thereon the location of one or more
waming devices located
in the geographic vicinity of the displayed map. Using a stylus or other input
device, the spotter can
activate a warning device by selecting it on the display and entering a
security code or other
information to cause a signal to be transmitted to the indicated warning
device. Alternatively, the
spotter can transmit a current location (e.g., as obtained by GPS) to a
central device activator, which
then selects one or more warning devices that are in the proximity of the
current location of the
spotter.
[30] Such devices can also be used in the system of FIG. 2A in order to
transmit spotter
information to weather center 200. While the remote activation scheme is
illustrated as relying on a
central siren activator 214, it will be appreciated that each spotter can
directly contact and activate
warning devices if each device is coupled to a telephone line or computer
device capable ofreceiving
an activation code.
[311 FIG. 2C shows yet another variation of the invention, wherein an
activation center 224
includes a computer with display 228 and a siren activator. 229. The computer
228 receives
meteorological information in the form of current and/or predicted tomado
positions from external
sources, such as weather center 231 and/or the National Weather Service 232,
and superimposes that
information on a computer map showing the location of each of a plurality of
warning devices 225
through 227. A human user visually observes the actual and/or predicted path
of the tornado on the
display of computer 228 and, through the use of a keyboard, trackball, mouse,
or other input device,
graphically selects one or more warning devices that are in the path of the
tornado.
1321 Activation can occur over the Intemet, through telephone dial-up lines,
cellular telephone
channels, and the like. The meteorological data and warning device locational
data may be displayed
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using web pages and a web browser. In one embodiment, hyperlinks associated
with each warning
device can be selected by a user in order to activate the warraing device.
1331 In addition to traditional warning devices such as sirens, the activation
signal can be fed to
cable television distribution facilities that service particular geographic
areas, such that a warning
can be displayed on televisions associated with a particular geographic area
(e.g.., specific
neighborhoods or houses). Additionally, activation signals can be transmitted
to web sites and other
computer systems for further use such as display purposes (e.g., display on
web pages, wireless
devices, cellular telephones, and the like).
1341 In one variation of the invention, computer 228 automatically calculates
which of the warning
devices are within a predetermined distance from the predicted tornado path
and suggests activation
to the user. The selection can be temporally based, such that as new
information becomes available
(e.g., the tornado changes course), certain warning devices are automatically
de-activated while
others are activated.
1351 FIG. 3 shows one possible computer display and selection method for
selecting a group of
warning devices 309 and activating sirens in the selected group. The computer
display 300 can be
used in the weather center 200 of FIG. 2A to remotely activate one or more
warning devices located
in geographically disparate regions, or in a regional activation center 224 of
the type shown in FIG.
2C.
[36] As shown in FIG. 3, the computer display 300 has superimposed thereon a
geographic map
showing the location of a plurality of warning devices 301 through 308. The
warning devices may
span one or more counties, cities, or other municipal regions. A tornado 311
and/or other
meteorological data is superimposed on the map in such a way that the location
of the tornado
relative to the warning devices can be visually observed. Additionally, a
predicted path 312 of the
tomado, such as a computer-generated prediction or simulation, can also be
superimposed on the
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display in such a way that the future path of the tomado relative to the
warning devices can be
visually discerned.
[37] A user of the computer system shown in FIG. 3 uses a cursor 310 and one
or more control
elements 313 and 314 to draw a box 309 around a subset of the waming devices
(306, 307, and 308)
that are visually determined to be in the path of the oncoming tornado. After
selecting a group of
warning devices in this fashion, the user can activate the warning devices
using an activation button
314. In one embodiment, the user is prompted to enter a password or other
authenticating
information to prevent the accidental or false activation of warning devices.
After selecting and
activating the warning devices, the computer transmits codes to the selected
warning devices and,
upon receiving confirmation from the waming devices that they have been
activated, displays them
in a different color on the computer display to confirm that they have been
correctly activated.
[38] As explained above, in one variation of the invention, the computer
automatically identifies
those warning devices that are within a predetermined or user-selected
distance from the current
and/or predicted path of the tornado (e.g., during a time period spanning 30
minutes). After the
computer selects the waming devices, the user is prompted to confirm
activation of the computer-
selected warning devices. It is a straightforward task to program a computer
with software to
compare the geographic location of each of a plurality of warrling devices to
an actual or predicted
path of a tornado, and no further elaboration is required.
[39] In one variation, the computer can automatically activate the warning
devices without user
intervention by comparing tornado location information to warning device
locations and activating
those warning devices that are within a predetermined range of'the tornado
location or its predicted
path. The activation can also occur in a staggered time sequence, such that
warning devices are
automatically activated and deactivated as the tornado approaches different
areas serviced by the
warning devices.
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[40] FIG. 4 shows steps for selecting and activating warning devices on the
basis of
meteorological data that is displayed on a computer screen. The method of FIG.
4 can be practiced at
a central weather center such as center 200 of FIG. 2A, or at a regional
control center such as center
224 of FIG. 2C.
[41] Beginning in step 401, a computer generates a display of meteorological
data on a map. The
data can include radar reflectivity data such as that generated by NEXRAD
radars operated by the
National Weather Service; "slime track" information showing the position of
observed or actual
tornados over a period of time; meteorologist-entered information such as the
suspected location of a
tornado or other severe weather event; information derived from spotters; and
other data tending to
show a severe weather event such as a tomado. In one embodiment, this
information can also
include predicted future storm or tornado tracks that are predicted using any
of various technologies,
such as those illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 5,959,567, entitied "Method and
Apparatus for Tracking
of Organized Storms."
1421 The future path of a tornado or other severe weather event can be
predicted in various ways.
As noted above, a future storm path can be predicted using an algorithm of the
type described in the
'567 patent. In another embodiment, a future path can be predicted using human
judgment (e.g.,
trained meteorologists monitoring various radar data and other sensed
information). In yet another
embodiment, a projected path as provided by the National Weather Service (NWS)
can be used. The
NWS often provides an array of points or "dots " that can be connected to
determine the path along
which a tornado or hurricane is expected to move. The swath cut by the
projected path may intersect
the range of one or more warning devices, which can then be automatically
activated by computer.
[43] A tornado location can be heuristically determined using a combination of
radar echo shape
("hook" echo), radar wind velocity and echo structure, all well known in the
meteorological
community. Once the initial position is determined, a predicted future
location can be predicted
using the principles set forth in the '567 patent, or a meteorologist can use
his or her judgment to
establish a projected future path. The National Weather Service transmits a
Tornado Detection
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Algorithm (TDA) in its WSR-88 radar data stream, and this TDA. position could
thus also be used.
The NWS also uses its own movement algorithms, which could be employed in
conjunction with the
principles of the invention. Finally, information supplied by "spotters" can
be used in conjunction
with any of the above techniques in order to pinpoint the location of an
actual tomado.
1441 In step 402, the locations of warning devices such as tomado sirens is
also displayed on the
same map as the meteorological data. This allows a user to visually compare
the location of the
meteorological event with the location of the waming devices. This step can be
optional, particularly
if the computer automatically selects warning devices on the basis of
meteorological data.
[451 In step 403, specific warning devices are selected based on the
meteorological data. As
shown in FIG. 3, for example, a human can select a group of one or more
warning devices that are in
the path of an impending or predicted tornado. Alternatively, the computer can
automatically select
and activate specific warning devices on the basis of the actual or predicted
path of the tornado or
other event.
[46J In step 404, the selected warning devices are activated, either by a
human user or by
computer. The activation can occur over telephone land-lines, frame relay
networks, the Internet, or
by other means.
[471 Finally, in step 405 the activated devices provide confirmation that they
have been activated,
and their activated state is optionally displayed on the computer display to
provide visual assurance
that activation has occurred.
[48] It will be appreciated that the waming device can be any type of device
capable of issuing a
warning in conjunction with a severe weather event, such as a tornado,
hurricane, lightning, wind
shear, or the like. The warning device can be associated with or service a
geographic region, a
corporate facility, an airport, factory, or any other entity or geographic
area. Warnings can be issued
in the fonn of sound, visual, radio frequency, television, telephonic, and the
like.
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[491 In one embodiment, a computer automatically calls residents having
telephone numbers
corresponding to an area for which a severe weather event is occurring or
projected to occur, and
plays a recorded message indicating the nature of the threat. In such an
embodiment, the warning
device itself need not be located in the area of the threat; instead, the
warning is communicated to
persons located in the affected area by a computer that is potentially located
outside the affected area.
Databases containing telephone numbers and street addresses corresponding to
the numbers can be
searched automatically by computer once the geographic area subject to threat
(e.g., including streets,
zip codes, or the like) is known. This technique is analogous to the' reverse
911" automated calling
process used by police departments to transmit information concerning recent
crimes in a given
neighborhood.
[50] What has been described above is merely illustrative of the application
of the principles of
the present invention. Other arrangements and methods can be implemented by
those skilled in the
art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Any
of the methods of the
invention can be implemented in software that can be stored on computer disks
or other computer-
readable media for execution in a host or target computer. The invention can
be implemented using
web browser technology, handheld computing units, and/or cellular telephones.
Moreover, while the
illustrative example of tornado warnings has been used in the description, the
invention is applicable
to other types of weather warnings such as lightning, hail, hurricanes, wind
shear, and the like, and
the inventive principles can be applied equivalently to such phenomena.
[51] For example, warnings may be issued based on the threat of a flash flood.
Weather center
200 may receive comprehensive weather information from the National Weather
Service 213 and
other radar sites 211, and display on computer display 300 radar estimates of
rainfall amounts, as
well as actual and predicted flood stages, superimposed over a waming device
array. Weather
information may be displayed by county or, alternatively, in
latitude/longitude format. Weather
center 200 may also receive rain gauge and river stage data to assist an
operator or automated
algorithm'in making a warning decision. The warning devices depicted may
include flash flood
warning sirens or lights, gates that may automatically close in order to alter
the effect or course of the
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CA 02418671 2003-02-07
flash flood or to divert traffic away from the flash flood, or any other
waming or prevention device.
A human operator may then interpret the meteorological information
superimposed over the warning
device array and select one or more devices to activate, as shown in FIG. 3.
Altematively, an
automated application program may receive and interpret the data, and
selectively activate one or
more devices based on the received data.
1521 In another example, weather center 200 may track and plot the location(s)
of current lightning
strikes, including at least cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, as well as
forecast locations of lightning
strikes. Weather center 200 may display forecast locations of lightning
strikes at one or more times
in the future, such as 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 30 minutes into the future,
superimposing the
present strikes and each predicative forecast over a warning device array
displayed on computer
display 300. A human operator can manually make a warning decision and
activate one or more
warning devices or, alternatively, an application program can automatically
interpret the received
data and activate one or more warning devices. Preferably, lightning warning
devices should be
located in areas likely to affected by lightning strikes, such as athletic
fields, golf courses, outdoor
aquatic recreation areas, and the like.
j531 In yet another example, wamings may be issued based on non-meteorological
events, such as
a release of a hazardous material, volcanic eruption, air pollution, and the
like. Weather center 200
may receive environmental warnings from the NWS, Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), or
any other government or independent source. In one embodiment, weather center
200 may forecast a
plume that illustrates the likely path and concentration of the released
hazardous material, and
display the plume forecast on computer display 300 superimposed over the
warning device array.
Alternatively, weather center 200 might not calculate the plume forecast, but
instead may receive the
plume forecast from a third party (NW S, EPA, etc.). Based on the plume
forecast superimposed over
the warning device array, a human operator can manually make a waming decision
and activate one
or more waming devices or an application program can automatically interpret
the received data and
activate one or more waming devices.
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[54} In some embodiments warnings may be tailored to a mobile waming device.
For example, in
an embodiment where a waming device comprises a mobile telephone, handheld
computing device,
or other mobile device, the weather center may periodically receive updated
location information
corresponding to the mobile warning device, and update the warning device's
location in the device
array displayed on computer display 300. Thus, a human operator or an
automated program will
have the warning device's correct location when making walning decisions. If
the warning device's
present location falls within an area selected to receive a walning according
to any of the aspects or
embodiments disclosed herein, the warning device receives the warning
information and responds
accordingly.
[55] While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples
including presently
preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that there are
numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and
techniques that fall within
the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. No
claim should be
interpreted to be in means plus function format. Numbered steps in method
claims should not be
interpreted to require a particular ordering of the steps.
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