Method and system for using a situational network
Patent No. US10117290 (titled "Method and system for using a situational network") on Jun 30, 2017. The application was issued on Oct 30, 2018.
What is this patent about?
’290 is related to the field of situational network systems and emergency management communications. It specifically addresses the technical challenge of rapidly organizing a communication infrastructure among geographically proximate individuals in response to a specific event, such as a natural disaster or public health crisis, where traditional social network structures may be insufficient or irrelevant.
The underlying idea behind ’290 is the dynamic formation of a situational network triggered by the occurrence of a specific event, rather than pre-existing social ties. By identifying participant devices based on their geographic proximity to a situation, the system can automate the solicitation of status updates and aggregate these responses into a centralized repository for real-time monitoring.
The claims of ’290 focus on a network system and central server architecture that establishes a situational network upon receiving an event trigger. The core functionality involves identifying a plurality of participant devices within a specific area, transmitting a roll call query to those devices to solicit status replies, and utilizing a database to aggregate those responses into a structured roll call list.
In practice, the invention functions as an automated check-in mechanism that bypasses the need for manual outreach during emergencies. When a situation authority identifies an event, the system crawls for or invites devices in the affected zone to join the network. This allows for the immediate collection of safety data, which is then compiled into a searchable list that can be used by emergency responders to identify individuals who have not yet responded.
This approach differs from prior social networking solutions by prioritizing event-based connectivity over established personal relationships. While traditional networks rely on persistent links, this system utilizes temporally limited links that exist only for the duration of the situation. By focusing on the physical location of the user at the time of the event, the system ensures that information flow is restricted to those with a direct, material interest in the immediate environment.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical Landscape
In the mid-2000s when ’290 was filed, mobile data exchange and location-aware services were typically implemented using static client-server architectures where devices communicated with centralized databases via fixed infrastructure. At a time when network connectivity commonly relied on persistent, pre-configured associations between a device and a specific service provider, the dynamic formation of ad-hoc groups based on transient environmental factors was limited by rigid session management protocols. Hardware and software constraints of the era made the real-time aggregation of disparate personal data streams and the spontaneous projection of localized networks non-trivial, as systems generally lacked the interoperability required to bridge independent data silos for immediate, context-specific utility.
Prosecution Position
The disclosed invention represents a technical advancement through the architectural shift toward situational networking, which enables the automated creation of transient network projections based on shared context or proximity. By integrating personal information aggregation with dynamic location-based services, the system overcomes the constraint of static user profiles that fail to adapt to changing physical environments. This capability enables the spontaneous delivery of emergency notifications, navigation data, and targeted information by establishing temporary communication links between entities that lack a prior relationship, achieving a technical effect of increased situational awareness and resource optimization in mobile environments.
Claims
The patent contains a total of 14 claims, with claims 1 and 8 serving as the independent claims. These independent claims focus on a network system and a central server architecture designed to form situational networks based on geographic proximity to an event, specifically for managing roll call queries and aggregating status responses from participant devices. The dependent claims serve to further define the system by specifying the types of situations covered, such as emergencies or natural disasters, detailing the role of social network organizations as situation authorities, and outlining specific functionalities for reporting locations, requesting assistance, or updating the status of non-responsive participants.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
Litigation Cases New
US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.
Patent Family
File Wrapper
The dossier documents provide a comprehensive record of the patent's prosecution history - including filings, correspondence, and decisions made by patent offices - and are crucial for understanding the patent's legal journey and any challenges it may have faced during examination.
Get instant alerts for new documents
US10117290
- Application Number
- US15638722A
- Filing Date
- Jun 30, 2017
- Publication Date
- Oct 30, 2018
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO , Google Patents