Location tracking and crisis support allocation

Inventor: Jemall Blythe (Virginia Beach, VA)

H04W4/90 G06F16/90335 G06F16/9535 H04L67/306 H04W4/029 H04W4/12

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,721,609
App. No.: 16/819,043
Granted: Jul 21, 2020
Kind: B1

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Abstract

One example method of operation may include receiving an indication from a user device, retrieving a user profile associated with the user device, comparing the user profile to one or more other user profiles associated with other user devices within a predefined distance of the user device, selecting a first of the other user profiles to pair with the user profile based on the comparing, transmitting an alert notification to a first of the other user devices associated with the first of the other user profiles, and receiving a response indicating whether the user profile and one or more other user profiles have paired.

Claims (56)

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication from a user device;

retrieving a user profile associated with the user device;

comparing the user profile to one or more other user profiles associated with other user devices within a predefined distance of the user device;

selecting a first of the other user profiles to pair with the user profile based on the comparing;

transmitting an alert notification to a first of the other user devices associated with the first of the other user profiles;

receiving a response indicating whether the user profile and one or more other user profiles have paired;

receiving a failed pairing attempt notification after a predetermined amount of time after transmitting the alert notification to the first of the other user devices;

selecting a second of the other user profiles to pair with the user profile;

initiating a timer to expire when the predetermined amount of time has lapsed;

transmitting another alert message to a second user device associated with the second of the other user profiles; and

receiving a confirmation that the second user device has confirmed the alert message and the second of the other user profiles have paired with the user profile prior to the timer expiring.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication from the user device is a distress notification indicating a user is in need of assistance.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising

determining a score for each of the other user profiles based on a number of parameters of each profile which match between the user profile and the other user profiles.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising

applying a plurality of different weight sizes to each of the parameters of each of the other user profiles prior to determining the score.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising

applying a largest weight to a distance parameter of the one or more user profiles that is associated with a corresponding user device having a closest proximity to the user device.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an indication from a user device;

a processor configured to

retrieve a user profile associated with the user device;

compare the user profile to one or more other user profiles associated with other user devices within a predefined distance of the user device; and

select a first of the other user profiles to pair with the user profile based on the comparing;

a transmitter configured to transmit an alert notification to a first of the other user devices associated with the first of the other user profiles; and

a receiver configured to

receive a response indicating whether the user profile and one or more other user profiles have paired; and

receive a failed pairing attempt notification after a predetermined amount of time after the alert notification is transmitted to the first of the other user devices; and

wherein the processor is further configured to

select a second of the other user profiles to pair with the user profile; and

initiate a timer to expire when the predetermined amount of time has lapsed; and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit another alert message to a second user device associated with the second of the other user profiles; and

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a confirmation that the second user device has confirmed the alert message and the second of the other user profiles have paired with the user profile prior to the timer expiring.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the indication from the user device is a distress notification indicating a user is in need of assistance.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a score for each of the other user profiles based on a number of parameters of each profile which match between the user profile and the other user profiles.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to apply a plurality of different weight sizes to each of the parameters of each of the other user profiles prior to determining the score.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to apply a largest weight to a distance parameter of the one or more user profiles that is associated with a corresponding user device having a closest proximity to the user device.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform: