Method for monitoring the safety of travelers
A method is provided for monitoring the present location of a traveler at time t 1 , predicting a location at which the traveler is expected to arrive by time t 2 , and verifying the safety of the traveler. The safety verification is conducted if the traveler has not reached the expected location at time t 2 , if signal from the traveler is lost or if a message from the traveler is not received within a predetermined time period. In some embodiments of the present invention, verifying the safety of the traveler involves contacting the traveler at one or more telecommunications devices which the traveler is known to carry, contacting another person that is known to be accompanying the traveler, and if all else fails—alerting the local emergency response team.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a signal s 1 at time t 1 from a first telecommunications terminal that is at a first location;
predicting that the first telecommunications terminal will be at a second location at time t 2 ;
when the signal s 1 is received at time t 2 from the second location, predicting that the first telecommunications terminal will be at a third location at time t 3 ; and
when the signal s 1 is not received at time t 2 from a second location, verifying a status of a user of the first telecommunications terminal.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the status of the user is verified by initiating a telecommunications session with the first telecommunications terminal.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the status of the user is verified by initiating a telecommunications session with a second telecommunications terminal.
4. The method of claim 1 comprising transmitting a recorded message from the user to a second telecommunications terminal when the signal s 1 is not received at time t 2 .
5. The method of claim 1 wherein:
a telecommunications session is initiated with a second telecommunications terminal when the signal s 1 is not received at time t 2 ; and
if the second telecommunications terminal fails to respond; a telecommunications session with a third terminal is initiated.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein verifying the status of the user comprises detecting present activity by the first telecommunications terminal.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein verifying the status of the user comprises receiving a message from a stationary telecommunications terminal associated with a known location indicating that the user has been present at the known location.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the status of the user is verified only if a message is not received from the user at time t 2 .
9. A method comprising:
receiving a signal indicating information about a traveling route of a user and an identification of a first telecommunications terminal associated with the user;
predicting that the first telecommunications terminal will be at a second location at time t 1 based on the information about the traveling route of the user;
when the signal s 1 is received at time t 2 from the second location, predicting that the first telecommunications terminal will be at a third location at time t 3 ; and
when the signal s 1 is not received at time t 2 from a second location, verifying a status of a user of the first telecommunications terminal.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the status of the user is verified by initiating a telecommunications session with the first telecommunications terminal.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the status of the user is verified by initiating a telecommunications session with a second telecommunications terminal.
12. The method of claim 9 comprising:
transmitting a recorded message from the user to a second telecommunications terminal when the signal s 1 is not received at time t 2 .
13. The method of claim 9 wherein:
a telecommunications session is initiated with a second telecommunications terminal when the signal s 1 is not received at time t 2 ; and
if the second telecommunications terminal fails to respond; a telecommunications session with a third terminal is initiated.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein verifying the status of the user comprises detecting present activity by the first telecommunications terminal.
15. A method comprising:
receiving a signal s 1 at time t 1 from a first telecommunications terminal that is at a first location;
predicting that the first telecommunications terminal will be at a second location at time t 2 ;
when a message from the user is received between time t 1 and t 2 , predicting that the first telecommunications terminal will be at a third location at time t 3 ; and
when a message from the user is not received between time t 1 and t 2 , verifying a status of a user of the first telecommunications terminal.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the status of the user is verified by calling the first telecommunications terminal.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the status of the user is verified by calling a second telecommunications terminal associated with the user.
18. The method of claim 15 comprising transmitting a recorded message from the user to a second telecommunications terminal when the signal s 1 is not received at time t 2 .
19. The method of claim 15 wherein:
a telecommunications session is initiated with a second telecommunications terminal when the signal s 1 is not received at time t 2 ; and
if the second telecommunications terminal fails to respond; a telecommunications session with a third terminal is initiated.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein verifying the status of the user comprises detecting present activity by the first telecommunications terminal.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein verifying the status of the user comprises receiving a message from a stationary telecommunications terminal associated with a known location indicating that the user has been present at the known location.
22. The method of claim 15 wherein the status of the user is verified only if the signal s 1 is not received at time t 2 from the second location.