Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 1 of 14 PageID #: 273
`
`Exhibit A
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 2 of 14 PageID #: 274
`
`US008213970B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Beyer
`
`cio) Patent no.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`us 8,213,970 B2
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`(54) METHOD OF UTILIZING FORCEDALERTS
`FOR INTERACTIVE REMOTE
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Malcolm K. Beyer, Jupiter Inlet Colony,
`FL (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Advanced Ground Information
`Systems, Inc., Jupiter, FL (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 367 days.
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 12/324,122
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Nov. 26, 2008
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2009/0075685 A1
`
`Mar. 19, 2009
`
`Related U.S.Application Data
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 11/612,830,
`filed on Dec. 19, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part
`of application No. 11/308,648, filed onApr. 17, 2006,
`which
`is
`7,630,724,
`Pat. No.
`now
`a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 10/711,490,
`filed on Sep. 21, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,031,728.
`
`(51)
`
`Int.CI.
`H04W4/00
`
`(2009.01)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4/2006 Beyer, Jr.
`7,031,728 B2
`2002/0061762 A1*
`5/2002 Maggentietal
`2004/0082352 A1*
`4/2004 Keating etal
`2004/0192365 A1*
`9/2004 Daltonetal
`2005/0241026 A1* 10/2005 Esler et al
`9/2006 Beyer, Jr. et al.
`2006/0199612 Al
`2008/0076410 Al
`3/2008 Beyer
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner — Nick Corsaro
`Assistant Examiner — Amanuel Lebassi
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Malin Haley Dimaggio
`Bowen & Lhota, PA.
`
`455/519
`455/519
`455/517
`D24/100
`
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`The system and methodhaving a specialized software appli¬
`cation on a personal computer or a PDA/cell phone that that
`enables a participant to force anautomatic acknowledgement
`and a manual response to a text or voice message from other
`participants within the same network. Each participant's
`PDA/cell phone includes a force message alert software
`application program for both creating and processing these
`forcedmessage alerts. The systemandmethodenabledby the
`force message alert software application program provides
`the ability to (a) allow an operator to create and transmit a
`forced message alert from a sender PDA/cell phone to one or
`more recipient PCs and PDA/cellphones within the commu¬
`nication network; (b) automatically transmit an acknowl¬
`edgement of receipt to the sender PDA cell phone upon the
`receipt ofthe forcedmessage alert; (c) periodically resendthe
`message to the recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones that have
`not sent an acknowledgement; (d) provide an indication of
`which recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones have acknowl¬
`edgedthe forcedmessagealert; (e)provideamanualresponse
`list on the display of the recipient PC and PDA/cell phone's
`display that can only be cleared by manually transmitting a
`response; and (f) provide an indication on the sender PDA/
`cell phone of the status and content the manual responses.
`
`13 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`(52) U.S. CI.....455/466; 455/88; 455/404.2; 455/412.1;
`
`455/412.2; 455/414.4; 455/415; 455/416;
`455/418; 455/419; 455/420; 455/456.1; 455/456.3;
`455/457; 455/458; 455/463; 455/500; 455/517;
`455/518; 455/519; 455/556.2; 701/213; 701/482
`455/41.1,
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`455/416, 518, 519, 41.3, 88, 404.2, 412.1,
`455/414.4, 415, 418, 419, 420, 456.1, 456.3,
`455/457, 458, 463; 701/213, 482
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`1*083
`
`ÿ<3;
`
`&GKt n
`«ti u
`M8 2U
`«Ia* CTT [ cant ;| BMfl J
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 3 of 14 PageID #: 275
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3,2012
`
`Sheet 1of 6
`
`US 8,213,970 B2
`
`ÿ i
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 4 of 14 PageID #: 276
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 8,213,970 B2
`
`PROVIDE EACH ACS NETWORK PARTICIPANT WITH A
`CELL PHONE / PDA / GPS WITH TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY
`
`PROVIDE A MAP FOR GEOGRAPHICAL DISPLAY IN EACH
`PHONE
`
`PROVIDE A DATABASE OF FIXED SITES AND THEIR
`LATITUDE - LONGT1TUDE AND THEIR PHONE NUMBERS
`
`PROVIDE A SYMBOL GENERATOR THAT CREATES A
`DISPLAY SYMBOL AT THE CORRECT LOCATION
`REPRESENTING AN ACS NETWORK PARTICIPANT OR ONE
`OF THE FIXED LOCATIONS ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL
`DISPLAY
`
`CONTROL THE ACS DISPLAY THROUGH THE USE OF
`LAYERED SOFT SWITCHES
`
`PROVIDE ACS THAT CAUSES THE EXCHANGE OF
`IDENTITY, LOCATION AND STATUS DATA BETWEEN THE
`PARTICIPANTS AND THE EXCHANGE OF FREE TEXT,
`PREFORMATTED TEXT MESSAGES, PHOTOGRAPHS AND
`VIDEOS
`
`PROVIDE ACS THAT AUTOMATICALLY INITIATES A CALL
`TO A PARTICIPANT BY TOUCHING THE PARTICIPANT'S
`SYMBOL ON THE DISPLAY AND SELECTING THE CALL
`SWITCH
`
`PROVIDE ACS THAT PERFORMS THE FUNCTION OF
`REMOTELY CALLING ANOTHER PARTICIPANT'S CELL
`PHONE
`
`SEND A MESSAGE TO THE REMOTE PHONE'S ACS THAT
`CAUSES IT TO CALL ANOTHER PHONE NUMBER OR
`PERFORM OTHER FUNCTIONS
`
`Fig 1b
`
`SETUP
`CONFERENCES
`BY SELECTING A
`PLURALITY OF
`SYMBOLS
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 5 of 14 PageID #: 277
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 8,213,970 B2
`
`Fig. 2
`
`START
`
`The Forced Messaging Alert Software is installed on a plurality
`of cell phones, integrated PDA/cell phones and PCs, creating a
`communication network
`
`One or more default response lists for the communication
`network are created
`
`The contact and identifying information for each cell phone,
`integrated PDA/cell phone and PC that is a member of the
`communication network and the default response list(s) are
`loaded on to every member cell phone, integrated PDA/cell
`phone and PC. A list is kept of each integrated PDA/cell phone
`and PC as they sign on the communications network.
`
`V
`
`END
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 6 of 14 PageID #: 278
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 8,213,970 B2
`
`Fig. 3A
`
`START
`
`The sender selects the forced messaging alert application
`software on a sender cell phone, integrated PDA/cell phone or
`PC and is prompted by said sender cell phone, integrated
`PDA/cell phone or PC to type the text message or record the
`voice message
`
`The sender types a text message or records a voice message
`on said sender cell phone, integrated PDA/cell phone or PC
`and is then prompted by said sender cell phone, integrated
`PDA/cell phone or PC to select if the message is to be sent
`to: a. a single user, b. all users participating in the network or
`c. a list of users.
`
`The sender then selects the default response list or creates a
`new response list that is sent with the text message or voice
`recording
`
`The sender designates instructs said sender cell phone,
`integrated PDA/cell phone or PC to transmit the message
`
`The forced message alert is transmitted to every designated
`recipient cell phone, integrated PDA/cell phone and PC
`
`GO TO
`FIG. 3B
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 7 of 14 PageID #: 279
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 8,213,970 B2
`
`Fia. 3B
`
`FROM FIG. 3A
`
`The sender cell phone, integrated PDA/cell phone or PC
`receives and monitors for acknowledgments of receipt from
`recipient cell phones, integrated PDA/cell phones and PCs and
`displays an indication of which recipient cell phones, integrated
`PDA/cell phones and PCs have acknowledged receipt of the
`message alert
`
`The sender cell phone, integrated PDA/cell phone or PC
`periodically resends the message alert to the recipient cell
`phones, integrated PDA/celi phones or PCs that have not
`acknowledged receipt.
`
`The sender cell phone, integrated PDA/cell phone or PC monitors
`for and receives responses to the message alert from the
`recipient cell phones, integrated PDA/cell phones and PCs and
`displays an indication of the response from each recipient cell
`phone, integrated PDA/cell phone and PC.
`
`END
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 8 of 14 PageID #: 280
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 3, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 8,213,970 B2
`
`Fig. 4
`
`START
`
`The forced alert message is received by the recipient cell phone,
`integrated PDA/cell phone or PC. In response to receipt of the
`forced alert message, the recipient phone software prepares and
`sends an automatic acknowledgement of the receipt to the
`sender cell phone, integrated PDA/cell phone or PC
`
`After the acknowledgement of receipt is sent, the forced voice
`alert software takes control of the recipient's cell phone,
`integrated PDA/cell phone or PC and causes the text message
`to be displayed or the voice message to be periodically repeated
`and a list of responses to be shown on the display of the
`recipient cell phone integrated PDA/cell phone or PC PDA/cell
`
`The recipient selects a response from the response list and the
`recipient cell phone and transmits the response to the senders
`cell phone.
`
`The forced message alert software releases control of the
`recipient cell phone, integrated PDA/cell phone or PC and
`clears the display or stops repeating the voice message
`
`END
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 9 of 14 PageID #: 281
`
`US 8,213
`
`,970 B2
`
`1
`METHOD OF UTILIZING FORCEDALERTS
`FOR INTERACTIVE REMOTE
`COMMUNICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/612,830 filedonDec. 19,2006 which
`is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`11/308,648filedApr. 17,2006 whichis a continuation-in-part
`of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/711,490 now U.S. Pat.
`No. 7,031,728.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`A communications systemandmethodthat uses a plurality
`of PCs and PDA/cell phones for the coordination of two or
`more people through the use of a communications network.
`The system and method provide each user with a PC or
`PDA/cell phone that has forced message alert software that 2o
`enables a user to create and send a voice or text message alert
`that forces anautomatic acknowledgement uponreceipt anda
`manual response from the recipient.
`2. Description of RelatedArt
`The purpose of a communications system is to transmit 25
`informationbearing digital messages from a source, located
`at one point, to a user destination, located at another point
`some distance away. A communications system is generally
`comprised of three basic elements: transmitter, information
`channel and receiver. One form of communication in recent 30
`years is cellular phone telephony. A network of cellular com¬
`munication systems set up around an area such as the United
`States allows multiple users to talk to each other, either on
`individual calls or on group calls, with handheld devices.
`Some cellular phone services enable a cellular phone to
`engage in conference calls with a small number of users.
`Furthermore, cellular conference calls can be established
`through 800 number services. Cellular telephony also now
`includes the ability to access local WiFi connections, allow- 40
`ing the devices to utilize cellular phone data transmission
`technology as well as the data transmission ability of the
`Internet.
`The method and operation of the integrated PDA/cell
`phones (cellphone/PDA/GPS with touch screen) usedherein 45
`is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,728, which is hereby
`incorporated by reference, pending U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 11/308,648,andpendingU.S.patent application Ser.
`No. 11/612,830, and are usually discussed herein as a cell
`phone.
`In many situations it is desirable for a user to be able to
`simultaneously send a message to the cell phones or PCs of a
`large group of people. This can be typically accomplished
`using Digital SMS (Smart Message Service) and TCP/IP
`messages that are transmitted using cellular technology such 55
`as thevarious versions ofGSMandCDMA or via aWiFi local
`area network. However, in some situations it is additionally
`desirable to know: (a) which people receivedthe message on
`their cell phone or PC, (b) which people did not receive the
`message on their cell phone or PC, and (c) the response of 60
`each personreceiving the message. Digital SMS and TCP/IP
`messages do not provide each ofthose functions.As a result,
`what isneededis a methodinwhich a sender of a text or voice
`message can force an automatic acknowledgement upon
`receipt from a recipient's cell phone or PC and a manual 65
`response from the recipient via the recipient's cell phone or
`PC when sending the text or voice message.
`
`50
`
`2
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Applicant's communication system and method described
`herein is embodied inthe forced alert software developed by
`applicant and installedinthe PCs and PDA/cell phones used
`herein.
`A plurality ofPCs andPDA/cellphones eachhavingforced
`alert software installedproviding a communication network
`of PCs and PDA/cell phones with the ability to: a) allow an
`operator to create andtransmit (via TCP/IP or another digital
`transmissionmeans) a forced voice alert, wherein said forced
`voice alert is comprised of a text or voice message file and a
`forced alert software packet, from a sender PC or PDA/cell
`phone to one or more recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones
`within said communicationnetwork; (b) automatically trans¬
`mit an acknowledgement of receipt from said recipient PCs
`and PDA/cell phones to the sender PCs or PDA/cell phones
`uponreceipt ofthe forced message alert by the recipient PCs
`and PDA/cell phones; (c) periodically resend the message to
`the recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones that have not sent an
`acknowledgement until an acknowledgement
`is received
`from every recipient PC and PDA/cell phone; (d) provide an
`indicationonthe display ofthe sender PC or PDA/cellphone
`of which recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones have acknowl¬
`edgedthe forcedmessagealert; (e)provideamanualresponse
`list on the display of the recipient PC and PDA/cell phone's
`display that can only be cleared by manually selecting and
`transmitting a response from the list or recording and trans¬
`mitting a voice response after sending said automatic
`acknowledgment; and (f) provide an indication onthe sender
`PC or PDA/cell phone of the status the manual response and
`the content of the manual response from each recipient PCs
`and PDA/cell phones.
`A communicationnetwork server canact as a forwarder for
`TCP/IP communications between any combination of PC
`users or PDA/cell phone users. The server can also act as a
`forwarder of data addressed from one participant to one or
`more addressedparticipants,thus permittingthe transmission
`of forced text or voice messages, other messages, photo¬
`graphs, video, E-mail and URL data from one network par¬
`ticipant to other selected network participants.
`The above functions canalso be accomplishedusingWiFi,
`WiMax or other peer to peer communications. However, for
`use with cellular communications and to assure the level of
`security that cell phone companies require, a centralized
`static IP routable server is used.
`It is the object of this invention provide to a method in
`whichby sending a forcedtext or voice message to a recipient
`or a group of recipients, a sender can compel an automatic
`acknowledgement of receipt from each recipient's PC or
`PDA/cell phone and require a manual response from the
`recipient viathe recipient's cellphonebeforethe messagecan
`be cleared.
`In accordance with these and other objects which will
`become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now
`be described with particular reference to the accompanying
`drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. la shows a front elevational view of an integrated
`PDA/cell phone having a touch screen that includes forced
`message alert software described herein.
`FIG. lb shows a flow chart that explains the device shown
`in FIG. la.
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 10 of 14 PageID #: 282
`
`US 8,213
`
`,970 B2
`
`3
`FIG. 2 shows the installation and set up of the forced
`message alert software on a communication network of cell
`phones, integrated PDA/cellphones, and PCs.
`FIG. 3A shows the first section of a flow chart showing a
`process of sending a forced message alert to one or more 5
`recipients as well as for ascertaining which recipients
`received the forced message alert and which recipients
`responded to the forced message alert.
`FIG. 3B shows the second section of a flow chart showing
`a process of sending a forced message alert to one or more 10
`recipients as well as for ascertaining which recipients
`received the forced message alert and which recipients
`responded to the forced message alert.
`FIG. 4 shows a flow chart showing a process ofreceiving a 15
`forcedmessagealert as well as providinganacknowledgment
`of receipt and a response by the recipient.
`
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`20
`
`40
`
`A communication system and method that joins partici¬
`pants ina communications networkusingpersonalcomputers
`("PC") and handheld cell phones having integrated personal
`digital assistant ("PDA/cell phone") with a forced message 25
`alert software applicationprogramthat allows a participant to
`send a text or voice message to a group ofpeople andforce an
`automatic acknowledgment ofreceipt anda manualresponse.
`Each PDA/cell phone described herein for the participant
`networkhas its own individual on/offpower and can function 30
`just as any other cellphone. Itcan also function with its PDA.
`To operate on the network, obviously the PDA/cell phone
`power switch has to be on. If the PDA/cell phone is com¬
`pletely turned off, then it is not part of the participating
`network and cannot send or receive any forced message 35
`alerts. Inadditionto its ownonandoffpower switch, ithas the
`forced message alert software application program that is
`activated manually when preparing to send a text or voice
`message or is activatedautomatically whenreceivinga forced
`message alert from another PC or PDA/cell phone.
`Each PC described herein is like any other contemporary
`PC, except that ithas the forced message alert software appli¬
`cation program installed on it. To operate on the network,
`obviously the PC must be onandhave an active connectionto
`the Internet or other digital transmission means. Ifthe PC is 45
`completely turned off, then it is not part of the participating
`network and cannot send or receive any forced message
`alerts. The forcedmessagealert software applicationprogram
`onthe PC is activatedmanually when preparingto send a text
`or voice messageor isactivatedautomatically whenreceiving 50
`a forced message alert from another PC or PDA/cell phone.
`The communication system also includes a server that acts
`as a forwarder for IPcommunications betweenany combina¬
`tionof PDA/cellphoneusers and/or PCbasedusers.Network
`participant location, identity and status messages are sent to 55
`the server by each user. The users are the network partici¬
`pants. Network participant entered tracks are also sent to the
`server. Because this data is of interest to all the network
`participants, the server forwards the data received from one
`participant to all other participants, thus providing the infor- 60
`mation necessary for all network participants to know the
`identity, location and status of all other network participants.
`In addition, the server keeps all of the network participants
`updatedoninformationkept inits databases, such as all ofthe
`participants' telephone numbers, E-mail addresses and other 65
`information necessary to carry on the communications
`described herein.
`
`4
`The server also acts as a forwarder of data addressed from
`one participant to one or more addressed participants, thus
`permitting the transmission of forced message alerts, other
`text and voice messages, photographs, video, E-mail and
`URL data from one network participant to other selected
`network participants.
`The above functions canalso be accomplishedusingWiFi,
`WiMax, or other peer to peer communications. However, for
`use with cellular communications and to assure the level of
`security that cell phone companies require, a centralized
`static IP routable server is used.
`Referring now to the drawings and, inparticular, FIGS, la
`and lb, a small handheld cellular phone 10 is shown that
`includes a PDA integrated in housing 12 that includes an
`on/off power switch 19, a microphone 38, and an LCD dis¬
`play 16that is also a touch screen system. The small area 16a
`is the navigationbar that depicts the telephone, GPS andother
`status data and the active software. Eachcell phone includes
`a CPU and databases that store information useful in the
`communication network. With the touch screen 16, data can
`be enteredthroughthe operator using a stylus 14 (or operator
`finger) by manipulatively directing the stylus 14 to literally
`touch display 16. Soft switches 16ddisplayed on the display
`16 are likewise activated by using a stylus 14 and physically
`and manipulatively directing the stylus to literally touch dis¬
`play 16.The display x, y coordinates ofthe touched point are
`known by a CPU inthe PDA section of the communication
`system inhousing 12that can coordinate various information
`contained inthe PDA relative to the x, y coordinate position
`onthe display 16.Insidehousing 12 is containedthe conven¬
`tional cellular phone elements including a modem, a CPU for
`usewith a PDA and associated circuitry connectedto speaker
`24 and microphone 38. Conventional PDA/cellular phones
`are currently on sale and sold as a unit that can be used for
`cellulartelephone calls and sending cellular SMS andTCP/IP
`or other messages using the PDA's display 16 and CPU. The
`device 10 includes a pair of cellular phone hardware activat¬
`ingbuttons 20 to turn the cellular phone on and 22 to turnthe
`cellular phone off. Navigationpad actuator 18 is similar to a
`joy or force stick in that the actuator 18 manually provides
`movement commands that canbeusedby the PDA's software
`to move a cursor on display 16. Switches 26 and 28 are
`designedto quickly select anoperator specifiednetwork soft¬
`ware program. Speaker 24 and microphone 38 are used for
`audio messages. Switch 19 at the top left of device 10 is the
`power on and power off switch for the entire device.
`The heart of the invention lies inthe forced message alert
`software application program provided in each PC or PDA/
`cell phone. The forced message alert software application
`programisactivatedthroughuse ofa screendrawn soft switch
`or by clicking onanicononthe PC or PDA/cellphone display
`transmission is
`screen or when a forced message alert
`receivedby another PC or PDA/cellphone. The display 16 is
`mounted within the housing 12 as part of the PDA and the
`CPU (not shown). The internal CPU includes databases and
`software application programs that provide for a geographi¬
`cal map and georeferenced entities that are shown as display
`portion 16b that includes as part of the display various areas
`of interest inthe particular local map section.
`When looking at display 16, the software switches (soft
`switches) which appear at the very bottom ofthe display 16d
`are used to control by touch many of the software driven
`functions of the PDA/cell phone. The soft switches are acti¬
`vated through the operator's use of the navigationpad 18, or
`a small track ball, force stick or similar hardware display
`cursor pointing device. Alternatively,
`the operator may
`choose to activate the software switches by touching the
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 11 of 14 PageID #: 283
`
`US 8,213
`
`,970 B2
`
`5
`screen with a stylus 14 (or finger) at the switches' 16d loca¬
`tions. When some of the software switches are activated,
`different software switches appear. The bar display 16d
`shows the software switches "ZM IN (zoom in)," "ZM OT
`(zoomout)," "CENT (center)" and"GRAB (pan/grab)" at the 5
`bottom of the screen. These software switches enable the
`operator to perform these functions. The "SWITH (switch)"
`software switch at the lower right causes a matrix of layered
`software switches (soft switches) to appear above the bottom
`row of switches. Through use of the software switches, the 10
`operator can also manipulate the geographical map 16b or
`chart display. When looking at FIG. la, display symbols
`depict permanent geographical locations and buildings are
`shown. Forexample,thepolice stationis shownand,whenthe
`symbol is touched by the stylus or finger, the latitude and 15
`longitude of the symbol's location, as shown indisplay sec¬
`tion 16c, is displayed at the bottom left of the screen. The
`bottom right side of display 16c is a multifunctioninset area
`that cancontain a variety of informationincluding: a) a list of
`the communication link participants; b) a list of received 20
`messages; a) a map, aerial photographor satellite image with
`an indicationofthe zoom and offset locationofthe mainmap
`display, which is indicated by a square that depicts the area
`actually displayed in the main geographical screen 16b\ d)
`applicable status information; and e) a list of the communi- 25
`cation net participants. Each participant user would have a
`device 10 shown in FIGS, la and lb.
`Also shown on the display screen 16, specifically the geo¬
`graphical display 16b, is a pair of different looking symbols
`30 and 34, a small triangle and a small square, which are not 30
`labeled. These symbols 30 and 34 canrepresent communica¬
`tion net participants having cellular phones inthe displayed
`geographical area that are part of the overall cellular phone
`communications net, eachparticipant havingthe same device
`10used.The latitudeandlongitude of symbol 30 is associated 35
`within a database with a specific cell phone number and, if
`available, its IP address and E-mail address. The screen dis¬
`play 16b, which is a touch screen, provides x and y coordi¬
`nates ofthe screen 16b to the CPU's software from a map in
`a geographical database. The software has an algorithm that 40
`relates the x and y coordinates to latitude and longitude and
`can access a communications net participant's symbol or a
`fixed or movable entity's symbol as being the one closest to
`that point.
`Inorder to initiate a telephone call to the PDA/cell phone 45
`user (communicationnet participant) representedby symbol
`(triangle) 30 at a specific latitude and longitude displayed on
`chart 16b, the operator touches the triangle 30 symbol with
`the stylus 14. The operator then touches a "call" software
`switch from a matrix of displayed soft switches that would 50
`overlay the display area 16c. Immediately, the PDA/cell
`phone will initiate a cellular telephone call to the PDA/cell
`phoneuser at the geographical locationshownthat represents
`symbol 30. A second PDA/cell phone user (communication
`net participant) is representedby symbol 34 which is a small 55
`square (but could be any shape or icon) to represent an indi¬
`vidual cellular phone device inthe display area. The ring 32
`around symbol 30 indicates that the symbol 30 has been
`touchedand that a telephone call canbe initiatedby touching
`the soft switch that says "call." When this is done, the tele- 60
`phone call is initiated. Other types of symbolic elements on
`the display 16 can indicate that a cellular phone call is in
`effect. Additionally, the operator can touch both symbol 34
`and symbol 30 and can activate a conference call betweenthe
`two cellular phones andusers representedby symbols 30 and 65
`34.Again, a symbolic ring around symbol 34 indicates that a
`call has been initiated.
`
`6
`Equally important,anoperator/user with a PDA/cellphone
`callthe police stationor any other specific geographical facil¬
`ity displayed on the cell display map, including: buildings,
`locations of people, vehicles, facilities, restaurants, and the
`like,whose PDA/cellphone numbers and, ifavailable, E-nail
`addresses, IP addresses and their URLs are previously stored
`inthe database, by touching a specific facility locationonthe
`map display usingthe stylus 14andthentouching the cellular
`phone call switch.As anexample, the operator/user cantouch
`and point to call a restaurant using a soft switch by touching
`the restaurant location on the display with a stylus and then
`touching the call soft switch. The cellular phonewill thencall
`the restaurant.Thus, usingthe present invention, eachpartici¬
`pant can touch and point to call to one or more other net
`participants symbolically displayed on the map, each of
`whom has a device as shown inFIG. la and can also point to
`call facilities and regular phone numbers that had been pre¬
`viously stored in the phone's database. Furthermore, this
`symbol hooking and soft switch technique can be used to go
`to a fixed facility' s website or to automatically enter the fixed
`facility's E-mail address in an e-mail.
`Each PDA/cell phone user device is identified on the map
`display of the other participants users' phone devices by a
`display symbol that isgeneratedoneachuserphonedisplay to
`indicate each user's identity. Each symbol is placed at the
`correct geographical location on the user display and is cor¬
`related with the map on the display. The operator of each
`PDA/cellphonedevice may also enter one or moreother fixed
`entities (buildings, facilities, restaurants,police stations, etc.)
`and geo-referenced events such as fires, accidents, or other
`events into its database. This information can be likewise
`transmitted to all the other participants on the communica¬
`tions net. The map, fixed entities, events and PDA/cellphone
`device communication net participants' latitude and longi¬
`tude informationis relatedto the "x" and "y" location on the
`touch screen display map by a mathematicalcorrelationalgo¬
`rithm.
`When the PDA/cell phone device user uses a stylus or
`finger to touch one or more of the symbols or a location
`displayed on the cellular phone map display, the system's
`software causes the status and latitude and longitude infor¬
`mationconcerning that symbol or locationto be displayed. In
`order to hook a symbol or "track" such as another net partici¬
`pant which represents an entity on the geo-referenced map
`display, or a fixed geographical entity such as a restaurant,
`police station or a new entity observed by a cell phone user
`which is discussed below, the operator points at or near the
`location of a geo-referenced symbol appearing on the PDA/
`cell phone display that represents a specific track or specific
`participant or other entity. The hook application software
`determines that the stylus ispointedclose to or at the location
`of the symbol and puts a circle, square or other indication
`around the symbol indicating that amplification information
`concerning the symbol is to be displayed and indicating that
`additional data or change indata canbe made to the indicated
`symbol. The hook application code then sends a message to
`the display application code to display the net participant,
`facility or entity's amplifying data. The display application
`code retrieves the primary data and amplification data con¬
`cerning the symbol or entity from the database and displays
`the information at the correct screen location. The operator
`canthenreadthe amplificationdatathat relates to that specific
`symbol at the specific location. The PDA/cellphone operator
`can also select soft switches on the touch screen display to
`change the primary data andamplificationdata. Furthermore,
`the operator can use a similar method of hooking and select¬
`ing to activate particular soft switches to take other actions
`
`

`

`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 20-1 Filed 08/17/17 Page 12 of 14 PageID #: 284
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`US 8,213
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`,970 B2
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`5
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`7
`which couldinclude: makingcellular phone calls, conference
`calls, 800 number calls; sending a free text message, operator
`selectedpreformattedmessages,photographs or videos to the
`hooked symbol; or to drop a entered symbol.
`Eachknownnet participant has a PDA/cellphone number,
`IP address and, if available, E-mail address that is stored in
`each participant's device database.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, in order to set up a communica¬
`tionnetworkthat utilizes the forcedmessage alert system, the
`forced message alert software application program must be 10
`installed on a plurality of PCs and/or PDA/cell phones. The
`applicationwill provide for a forced alert messagethat canbe
`designated for transmission according to several criteria: a.)
`A single PC and/or PDA/cell phone, b.) The list of users
`currently participating in the network, and c.) A user or 15
`administrator predefined list of network participants.
`A requiredresponse list whichwill be either preinstalledin
`the phone application software or sent with the forced mes¬
`sage alert will be presented to the user operator upon receipt
`of the forced message. When the forced text or voice alert is 20
`received, the user operator is presented with the required
`response list. Inorder to clear the forced text message alert
`from the user operator's PC or PDA/cell phone display, the
`user operator is requiredto select a reply from this list. Ifthe
`alert is a voice message, the message keeps repeating at a 25
`defined rate until the user operator select