Method And System For Using A Situational Network
Patent No. US12336052 (titled "Method And System For Using A Situational Network") was filed by Sitnet Llc on Dec 30, 2024.
What is this patent about?
’052 is related to the field of situational awareness networks , specifically the creation and management of such networks within a larger, multi-dimensional information network. The background involves the increasing need for efficient information dissemination during events like emergencies or disasters, where relevant information needs to reach affected individuals quickly and reliably. Traditional methods often lack the ability to target information effectively based on proximity, user roles, and other contextual factors.
The underlying idea behind ’052 is to leverage a pre-existing multi-dimensional information network to dynamically create a situational network in response to an event. This involves establishing an event node, projecting relevant users based on their proximity to the event, and then inviting them to join the situational network. The key insight is to use the existing network's infrastructure and user data to rapidly assemble a targeted communication channel, enabling efficient information sharing and coordination.
The claims of ’052 focus on a method and system for creating a situational network. This involves maintaining a database of user nodes and their relationships, providing composite data feeds to user devices, establishing an event node discoverable through these feeds, creating a projection of user nodes based on their distance from the event, transmitting roll call requests to connect to the event node, joining responding users to a centralized architecture around the event node, storing data representing this joining, analyzing the database to identify a third subset of user nodes, and delivering additional information to a third subset of user devices.
In practice, the invention works by first identifying an event and its geographical area. An event node is then created, acting as a central hub for information related to the event. The system then analyzes the existing multi-dimensional network to identify users in proximity to the event, using their location data. These users are invited to join the situational network, and those who accept are connected to the event node. This allows for targeted delivery of information, such as emergency alerts or resource availability updates.
The differentiation from prior approaches lies in the use of a pre-existing multi-dimensional network and the concept of a 'roll call' to connect users. Instead of relying on ad-hoc methods or broadcast approaches, the invention leverages the network's existing infrastructure and user data to create a highly targeted and efficient communication channel. The use of projections based on distance and the ability to deliver supplemental information from other information nodes further enhances the system's effectiveness in disseminating relevant information during a situation.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the mid-2000s when ’052 was filed, location-based services were at a time when systems commonly relied on GPS and cellular triangulation for positioning, when ad-hoc networking was typically implemented using Bluetooth or early Wi-Fi standards, and when hardware or software constraints made real-time data aggregation and dissemination non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
Claims 2-13 were pending. Claims 2-13 were rejected for non-statutory double patenting. The examiner determined that the claims were unpatentable over other patents. The prior art made of record was considered pertinent to the applicant's disclosure.
Claims
This patent contains 12 claims, with claims 1 and 7 being independent. The independent claims are directed to a method and a system for creating a situational network from a larger multi-dimensional information network in response to an event, focusing on delivering information to selected users. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the specifics of identifying user subsets and analyzing links within the network to deliver targeted information.
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Date
Description
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US12336052
- Application Number
- US19005970
- Filing Date
- Dec 30, 2024
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Oct 26, 2027
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents