IP Library Granted Patent US 8,423,056
Granted Patent B2
US 8,423,056 · App. 11/894,330 · Granted Apr 16, 2013

Sending time-sensitive information via a short message service

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,423,056
App. No.
11/894,330
Granted
Apr 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for informing at least one person of time-sensitive information via a short message service is disclosed. The technology initially accesses a data base of contact information related to at least one person in response to receiving a request to deliver the time-sensitive information via a short message service. The time-sensitive information is then assigned to at least one person. The time-sensitive information is then sent to at least one person. Then feedback is received as to at least one person's receipt of the time-sensitive information.

Claims (47)

1. A computer implemented method for providing time-sensitive information to a plurality of people via a short message service, said method comprising:

accessing a data base of contact information related to a plurality of people in response to receiving a request to deliver said time-sensitive information via said short message service, said time-sensitive information comprising information which is important based upon an involved factor of time, said time-sensitive information comprising a stand-alone, time-sensitive message that can be obtained without requiring any additional actions to be taken by any of said plurality of people receiving said time-sensitive information;

assigning said time-sensitive information to said plurality of people;

sending said time-sensitive information to said plurality of people;

receiving feedback for each of said plurality of people that said time-sensitive information was received by each of said plurality of people; and

sending said time-sensitive message at a pre-determined time.

2. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a group of people from a data base of contacts to receive said time-sensitive information.

3. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:

utilizing an emergency as said time-sensitive information.

4. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:

utilizing a company event as said time-sensitive information.

5. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:

if at least one person of said plurality of people did not receive said time-sensitive information, sending a message to a pre-determined location associated with at least one third party, wherein said message includes instructions to deliver said time-sensitive information to said at least one person.

6. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a summary of said time-sensitive information sent to said plurality of people.

7. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a summary of said time-sensitive information received by said plurality of people.

8. A time-sensitive information informer associated with a short message service comprising:

a data base accessor configured to access a data base of contact information related to a plurality of people;

a time-sensitive information assignor configured to receive time-sensitive information and assign said time-sensitive information to said plurality of people, said time-sensitive information comprising information which is important based upon an involved factor of time, said time-sensitive information comprising a stand-alone, time-sensitive message that can be obtained without requiring any additional actions to be taken by any of said plurality of people receiving said time-sensitive information;

a transmitter configured to utilize said contact information to transmit said time-sensitive information to said plurality of people;

a feedback receiver configured to receive feedback for each of said plurality of people as to whether or not each of said plurality of people received said time-sensitive information; and

wherein said time-sensitive message is sent at a pre-determined time.

9. The time-sensitive information informer of claim 8 , wherein said time-sensitive information is associated with an emergency.

10. The time-sensitive information informer of claim 8 , wherein said time-sensitive information is associated with company business.

11. The time-sensitive information informer of claim 8 , further comprising:

a data base accessor configured to access a data base containing contact information, said contact information comprising a plurality of persons and a plurality of communications devices related to a group of persons within said plurality of persons;

a time-sensitive information assignor for assigning received time-sensitive information to said group of persons;

a transmitter configured to utilize said contact information to transmit said time-sensitive information to said plurality of communications devices; and

a feedback receiver configured to receive feedback as to whether or not said communications devices received said time-sensitive information.

12. The time-sensitive information informer of claim 11 , further comprising:

a summarizer configured to provide a summary of said time-sensitive information transmitted to said plurality of communications devices and received by said plurality of communications devices.

13. An non-transitory computer-usable medium storing instructions of a computer-implemented method for informing at least one person of a time-sensitive information via a short message service, said computer-implemented method comprising:

selecting a subset of people from a data base containing contact information, said contact information comprising a plurality of persons and a communications device related to at least one person within said plurality of persons;

assigning said time-sensitive information to said subset of people, said time-sensitive information comprising information which is important based upon an involved factor of time, said time-sensitive information comprising a stand-alone, time-sensitive message that can be obtained without requiring any additional actions to be taken by any of said plurality of persons receiving said time-sensitive information;

sending said time-sensitive information via said short message service to said subset of people;

receiving feedback as to a receipt by said communications device of said time-sensitive information for each of said subset of people; and

sending said time-sensitive message at a pre-determined time.

14. The computer-usable medium storing instructions as described in claim 13 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises:

if said at least one person did not receive said time-sensitive message, sending an instruction to a pre-determined location associated with at least one third party, wherein said instruction directs a delivery of said time-sensitive message to said at least one person.

15. The computer-usable medium storing instructions as described in claim 13 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises:

utilizing an emergency as said time-sensitive message.

16. The computer-usable medium storing instructions as described in claim 13 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises:

utilizing company business as said time-sensitive message.

17. The computer-usable medium storing instructions as described in claim 13 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises:

receiving a summary of messages sent to said at least one person and received by each of said at least one person.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052915 FRAME 0566 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 052915/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2016
From: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040821/0550 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2012
From: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 029341/0777 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2007
From: ABRANTES, AUDREY JILL R.; ADAWAG, CESAR O.; BERNARDIO, VIVENCIO O.; JAVIER, GENE K.; PATAJO, EDGARDO G.
To: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 019859/0675 →