`
`METHOD OF UTILIZING FORCED ALERTS FOR INTERACTIVE REMOTE
`COMMUNICATIONS
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/612830
`filed on December19, 2006 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S, Patent Application Serial
`No. 11/308,648 filed April 17, 2006 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application
`Serial No. 10/711,490 now U.S. Patent No. 7,031,728.
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`1.
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`Field of the Invention
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`A communications system and method that uses a plurality of PCs and PDA/cell |
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`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
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`forced message alert software that enables a user to create and send a voice or text message
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`alert that forces an automatic acknowledgement uponreceipt and a manual response from the
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`recipient.
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`2.
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`Description of Related Art
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`The purpose of a communications system is to transmit information bearing digital
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`messages from a source, located at one point, to a user destination, located at another point
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`some distance away. A communications system is generally comprised of three basic
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`elements:
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`transmitter, information channel and receiver. One form of communication in
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`recent years is cellular phone telephony. A network of cellular communication systems set up
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`around an area such as the United States allows multiple users to talk to each other, either on
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`individual calls or on group calls, with handheld devices. Somecellular phone services enable
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`a cellular phone to engage in conference calls with a small number of users. Furthermore,
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`cellular conference calls can be established through 800 number services. Cellular telephony
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`also now includes the ability to access local WiFi connections, allowing the devices to utilize
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`cellular phone data transmission technology as well as the data transmission ability of the
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`Internet.
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`The method and operation of the integrated PDA/cell phones (cell phone/PDA/GPS
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`with touch screen) used herein is described in U.S. Patent 7,031,728, which is hereby
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`incorporated by reference, pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/308,648, and
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`pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/612,830, and are usually discussed herein as a
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`cell phone.
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`In many situationsit is desirable for a user to be able to simultaneously send a message |
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`to the cell phones or PCs of a large group of people. This can be typically accomplished using
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`Digital SMS (Smart Message Service) and TCP/IP messagesthat are transmitted using cellular
`technology suchas the various versions of GSM and CDMAorvia a WiFi local area network.
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`However, in somesituations it is additionally desirable to know: (a) which people received the
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`message on their cell phone or PC, (b) which people did not receive the message on their cell
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`phone or PC, and (c) the response of each person receiving the message. Digital SMS and
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`TCP/IP messages do not provide each of those functions. As a result, what is needed is a
`method in which a sender ofa text or voice message can force an automatic acknowledgement
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`upon receipt from a recipient’s cell phone or PC and a manual response from the recipient via
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`the recipient’s cell phone or PC when sending the text or voice message.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`Applicant’s communication system and method described herein is embodied in the
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`forced alert software developed by applicant and installed in the PCs and PDA/cell phones
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`used herein.
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`A plurality of PCs and PDA/cell phones each having forced alert software installed
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`providing a communication network of PCs and PDA/cell phones with the ability to: a) allow
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`an operator to create and transmit (via TCP/IP or another digital transmission means) a forced
`voice alert, wherein said forced voice alert is comprised of a text or voice message file and a
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`forced alert software packet, from a sender PC or PDA/cell phone to one or more recipient
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`P€s
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`and PDA/cell phones within said communication network; (b) automatically transmit an
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`acknowledgement of receipt from said recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones to the sender PCs
`or PDA/cell phones upon receipt of the forced messagealert by the recipient PCs and —
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`PDA/cell phones; (c) periodically resend the message to the recipient PCs and PDA/cell
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`phones that have not sent an acknowledgement until an acknowledgement is received from
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`every recipient PC and PDA/cell phone; (d) provide an indication on the display of the sender
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`PC or PDA/cell phone of which recipient PCs and PDA/cell phones have acknowledged the
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`forced messagealert; (¢) provide a manual responselist on the display of the recipient PC and
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`PDA/cell phone’s display that can only be cleared by manually selecting and transmitting a
`response from the list or recording and transmitting a voice response after sending said
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`automatic acknowledgment; and (f) provide an indication on the sender PC or PDA/cell phone
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`of the status the manual response and the content of the manual response from each recipient
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`PCs and PDA/ceil phones.
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`A communication network server can act as a forwarder for TCP/IP communications
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`between any combination of PC users or PDA/cell phone users. ‘The server can also act as a
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`forwarder of data addressed from one participant to one or more addressedparticipants, thus
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`permitting the transmission of forced text or voice messages, other messages, photographs,
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`video, E-mail and URL data from one network participant
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`to other selected network
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`participants.
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`The above functions can also be accomplished using WiFi, WiMax or other peer to
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`peer communications. However, for use with cellular communications and to assure the level
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`of security that cell phone companies require, a centralized static IP routable server is used,
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`It is the object of this invention provide to a method in which by sending a forced text
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`or voice message to a recipient or a group of recipients, a sender can compel an automatic
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`acknowledgementof receipt from each recipient’s PC or PDA/cell phone and require a manual
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`response from the recipient via the recipient’s cell phone before the message can be cleared.
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`In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the
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`instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying
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`drawings.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`Figure la shows a front elevational view of an integrated PDA/cell phone having a
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`touch screen that includes forced message alert software described herein.
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`Figure 1b showsa flow chart that explains the device shown in Figure La.
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`Figure 2 shows the installation and set up of the forced message alert software on a
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`communication network of cell phones, integrated PDA/cell phones, and PCs.
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`Figure 3A showsthefirst section of a flow chart showing a process of sending a forced
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`message alert to one or more recipients as well as for ascertaining which recipients received |
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`the forced message alert and which recipients responded to the forced message alert.
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`Figure 3B shows the second section of a flow chart showing a process of sending a
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`forced message alert to one or more recipients as well as for ascertaining which recipients
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`received the forced message alert and which recipients responded to the forced message alert.
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`Figure 4 showsa flow chart showinga process of receiving a forced messagealert as
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`well as providing an acknowledgmentof receipt and a response by the recipient.
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`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
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`A communication system and method that joins participants in a communications
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`network using personal computers (“PC”} and handheld cell phones having integrated
`personal digital assistant (“PDA/cell phone”) with a forced messagealert software application
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`program that allows a participant to send a text or voice message to a group of people and
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`force an automatic acknowledgmentof receipt and a manual response.
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`Each PDA/cell phone described herein for the participant network has its own
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`individual on/off power and can function just as any other cell phone.
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`It can also function
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`with its PDA. To operate on the network, obviously the PDA/cell phone power switch has to
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`be on.
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`If the PDA/cell phone is completely turned off, then it is not part of the participating
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`network and cannot send or receive any forced messagealerts, In addition to its own on and
`offpower switch, it has the forced message alert software application program that is activated
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`manually when preparing to send a text or voice messageor is activated automatically when
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`receiving a forced messagealert from another PC or PDA/cell phone.
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`Each PC described herein is like any other contemporary PC, except that it has the
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`forced message alert software application program installed on it. To operate on the network,
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`obviously the PC must be on and have an active connection to the Internet or other digital
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`transmission means. [f the PC is completely turned off, thenit is not part of the participating
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`network and cannot send or receive any forced message alerts. The forced message alert
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`software application program on the PC is activated manually whenpreparing to send a text or
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`voice message or is activated automatically when receiving a forced message alert from
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`another PC or PDA/cell phone.
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`The communication system also includes a server that acts as a forwarder for IP
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`communications between any combination of PDA/cell phone users and/or PC based users,
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`Network participant location, identity and status messages are sent to the server by each user.
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`The users are the network participants. Network participant entered tracks are also sent to the
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`server. Because this data is of interest to all the network participants, the server forwards the
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`data received from one participant to all other participants, thus providing the information
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`necessary for all network participants to know the identity, location and status of all other
`network participants. In addition, the server keepsall of the network participants updated on
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`information kept in its databases, such as all of the participants’ telephone numbers, E-mail
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`addresses and other information necessary fo carry on the communications described herein.
`The server also acts as a forwarder of data addressed from one participant to one or
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`more addressed participants, thus permitting the transmission of forced messagealerts, other
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`text and voice messages, photographs, video, E-mail and URL data from one network
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`participant to other selected network participants.
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`The above functions can also be accomplished using WiFi, WiMax, or other peer to
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`peer communications. However, for use with cellular communications and to assure the level
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`of security that cell phone companies require, a centralized static IP routable server is used.
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`Referring now to the drawings and, in particular, Figure 1a and 1b, a small handheld
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`cellular phone 10 is shown that includes a PDA integrated in housing 12 that includes an
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`on/off power switch 19, a microphone 38, and an LCD display 16 that is also a touch screen
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`system. The small area 16a is the navigation bar that depicts the telephone, GPS and other
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`status data and the active software. Each cell phone includes a CPU and databases that store
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`information useful in the communication network. With the touch screen 16, data can be
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`entered through the operator using a stylus 14 (or operator finger) by manipulatively directing
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`the stylus 14 to literally touch display 16. Soft switches 16d displayed on the display 16 are
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`likewise activated by using a stylus 14 and physically and manipulatively directing the stylus
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`to literally touch display 16. The display x, y coordinates of the touched point are known by a
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`CPU in the PDA section. of the communication system in housing 12 that can coordinate
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`various information contained in the PDA relative to the x, y coordinate position on the
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`display 16.
`Inside housing 12 is contained the conventional cellular phone elements including
`a modem, a CPU for use with a PDA andassociated circuitry connected to speaker 24 and
`microphone 38. Conventional PDA/cellular phones are currently on sale and sold as a unit that
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`can be used for cellular telephone calls and sending cellular SMS and TCP/IP or other
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`messages using the PDA’s display 16 and CPU. The device 10 includes a pair of cellular
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`phone hardware activating buttons 20 to turn the cellular phone on and 22 to turn the cellular
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`phoneoff. Navigation pad actuator 18 is similar to a joy or force stick in that the actuator 18
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`manually provides movement commands that can be used by the PDA’s software to move a
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`cursor on display 16. Switches 26 and 28 are designed to quickly select an operator specified
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`network software program. Speaker 24 and microphone 38 are used for audio messages.
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`Switch 19 at the top left of device 10 is the power on and power off switch for the entire
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`device.
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`The heart of the invention lies in the forced message alert software application
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`program provided in each PC or PDA/cell phone.
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`‘The forced message alert software
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`application program is activated through use of a screen drawn soft switch or by clicking on an
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`icon on the PC or PDA/cell phone display screen or when a forced messagealert transmission
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`is received by another PC or PDA/cell phone. The display 16 is mounted within the housing
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`12 as part of the PDA and the CPU (not shown). The internal CPU includes databases and
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`software application programs that provide for a geographical map and georeferenced entities
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`that are shown as display portion 16b that includes as part of the display various areas of
`interestin the particular local map section.
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`When looking at display 16, the software switches (soft switches) which appear at the
`very bottom of the display 16d are used to control by touch many of the software driven
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`functions of the PDA/cell phone. The soft switches are activated through the operator’s use of
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`the navigation pad 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
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`touching the screen with a stylus 14 (or finger) at the switches’ 16d locations. When some of
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`the software switches are activated, different software switches appear. The bar display 16d
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`showsthe software switches “ZM IN (zoom in),” “ZM OT (zoom out},” “CENT (center)” and
`“GRAB (pan/grab)” at the bottom of the screen. These software switches enable the operator
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`to perform these functions. The “SWITH (switch)” software switch at the lower right causes a
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`matrix of layered software switches (soft switches) to appear above the bottom row of
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`switches, Through use of the software switches,
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`the operator can also manipulate the
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`geographical map 16b or chart display. When looking at Figure 1a, display symbols depict
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`permanent geographical locations and buildings are shown. For example, the police station is
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`shown and, when the symbol is touched by the stylus or finger, the latitude and longitude of
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`the symbol’s location, as shown in display section lé6c, is displayed at the bottom left of the
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`screen. The bottom right side of display 16c is a multifunction inset area that can contain a
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`variety of information including: a) a list of the communication link participants; b) a list of
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`received messages; ¢) a map,aerial photograph orsatellite image with an indication of the
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`zoom and offset location of the main map display, which is indicated by a square that depicts
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`the area actually displayed in the main geographical screen 16b; d) applicable status
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`information; and e) a list of the communication net participants. Each participant user would
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`have a device 10 shown in Figure la and 1b.
`Also shown on the display screen 16, specifically the geographical display 16b, is a
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`pair of different looking symbols 30 and 34, a small triangle and a small square, which are not
`labeled. These symbols 30 and 34 can represent communication net participants having
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`cellular phones in the displayed geographical area that are part of the overall] cellular phone
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`communications net, each participant having the same device 10 used.
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`‘The latitude and
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`longitude of symbo! 30 is associated within a database with a specific cell phone number and,
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`if available, its IP address and E-mail address. The screen display 16b, which is a touch
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`screen, provides x and y coordinates of the screen 16b to the CPU’s software from a map ina
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`geographical database. The software has an algorithm that relates the x and y coordinates to
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`latitude and longitude and can access a communications net participant’s symbol or a fixed or
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`movable entity’s symbol as being the one closest to that point.
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`In order to mitiate a telephone call to the PDA/cell phone user (communication net
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`participant) represented by symbol (triangle) 30 at a specific latitude and longitude displayed
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`on chart 16b, the operator touches the triangle 30 symbol with thestylus 14. The operator then
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`touches a “call” software switch from a matrix of displayed soft switches that would overlay
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`the display area L6c. Immediately, the PDA/cell phone will initiate a cellular telephone call to
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`the PDA/cell phone user at the geographical location shown that represents symbol 30. A
`second PDA/cell phone user (communication net participant) is represented by symbol 34
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`which is a small square (but could be any shape or icon) to represent an individual cellular
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`phone device in the display area. The ring 32 around symbol30 indicates that the symbol 30
`has been touched andthat a telephone call can beinitiatedby touching the soft switch that says
`“call.” When this is done, the telephone call is initiated. Other types of symbolic elements on
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`the display 16 can indicate that a cellular phonecall is in effect. Additionally, the operator can
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`touch both symbol 34 and symbol 30 and can activate a conference call between the two
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`cellular phones and users represented by symbols 30 and 34. Again, a symbolic ring around ~
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`symbol34 indicates that a call has been initiated.
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`Equally important, an operator/user with a PDA/cell phone call the police station or
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`any other specific geographical facility displayed on the cell display map, including: buildings,
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`locations of people, vehicles, facilities, restaurants, and the like, whose PDA/cell phone
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`numbers and, if available, E-mail addresses, IP addresses and their URLs
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`are previously
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`stored in the database, by touching a specific facility location on the map display using the
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`stylus 14 and then touching the cellular phone call switch. As an example, the operator/user
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`can touch and point to call a restaurant using a soft switch by touching the restaurant location
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`~ on the display with a stylus and then touchingthe call soft switch. The cellular phone will then
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`call the restaurant. Thus, using the present invention, each participant can touch and point to
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`call to one or more other net participants symbolically displayed on the map, each of whom
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`has a device as shown in Figure la and can also point to call facilities and regular phone
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`numbers that had been previously 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 ot to
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`automatically enter the fixed facility’s E-mail address in an e-mail.
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`Each PDA/cell phone user device is identified on the map display of the other
`participants users’ phone devices by a display symbol that is generated on each user phone
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`display to indicate each user’s identity. Each symbol is placed at the correct geographical
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`location on the user display and is correlated with the map on the display. The operator of
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`each PDA/cell phone device may also enter one or more other fixed entities (buildings,
`facilities, restaurants, police stations, etc.) and geo-referenced events such as fires, accidents,
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`or other events into its database. This information can be likewise transmitted to all the other
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`participants on the communications net. The map,fixed entities, events and PDA/cell phone
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`device communication net participants’ latitude and longitude information is related to the “x”
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`and “y” location on the touch screen display map by a mathematical correlation algorithm.
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`When the PDA/cell phone device user uses a stylus or finger to touch one or more of
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`the symbols or a location displayed on the cellular phone map display, the system’s software
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`causes the status and latitude and longitude information concerning that symbol or location to
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`be displayed.
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`In order to hook a symbol or “track” such as another net participant which
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`represents an entity on the geo-referenced map display, or a fixed geographical entity such as a
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`restaurant, police station or a new entity observed by a cell phone user which is discussed
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`below, the operator points at or nearthe location of a geo-referenced symbol appearing on the
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`PDA/cell phone display that represents a specific track or specific participant or other entity.
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`The hook application software determines that the stylus is pointed close to or at the location
`of the symbol and puts a circle, square or other indication around the symbol indicating that
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`amplification information concerning the symbol
`is to be displayed and indicating that
`additional data or change in data can be madeto the indicated symbol. The hook application
`code then sends a message to the display application code to display the net participant,
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`facility or entity’s amplifying data. The display application code retrieves the primary data
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`and amplification data concerning the symbol or entity from the database and displays the
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`information at the correct screen location. The operator can then read the amplification data
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`that relates to that specific symbolat the specific location. The PDA/cell phone operator can
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`also select soft switches on the touch screen display to change the primary data and
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`amplification data. Furthermore,
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`the operator can use a similar method of hooking and
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`selecting to activate particular soft switches to take other actions which could include: making
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`cellular phone calls, conference calls, 800 numbercalls; sending a free text message, operator
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`selected preformatted messages, photographs or videos to the hooked symbol; or to drop a
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`entered symbol.
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`Each knownnet participant has a PDA/cell phone number, IP address and,if available,
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`E-mail address that is stored in each participant’s device database.
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`Referring now fo Figure 2, in order to set up a communication network that utilizes the
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`forced message alert system, the forced message alert software application program must be
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`installed on a plurality of PCs and/or PDA/cell phones. The application will provide for a
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`forced alert message that can be designated for transmission according to several criteria: a.) A
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`single PC and/or PDA/cell phone, b.) The list of users currently participating in the network,
`and c.) A user or administrator predefined list ofnetwork participants.
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`A required response list which will be either preinstalled in the phone application
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`software or sent with the forced message alert will be presented to the user operator upon
`receipt ofthe forced message. Whenthe forced text or voice alert is received, the user operator
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`is presented with the required response list. In order to clear the forced text message alert from
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`the user operator’s PC or PDA/cell phone display, the user operator is required to select a
`reply from this list. If the alert is a voice message, the message keeps repeating at a defined
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`rate until the user operator selects from the required responselist. A military default response
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`list would typically consist of choices such as, “will comply,” will not comply,” and “have
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`complied.” However, depending on the nature of the industry in which the users in the
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`communication network are in, this default response list could vary significantly.
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`The contact and identifying information for each PC and PDA/cell phone that is
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`anticipated to be a member of the communication network and the default response list is
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`loaded on to every member PC and PDA/cell phone in the preferred embodiment. This step
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`makes sure the each user of the communication network has, in addition to the necessary
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`software, the necessary information to send a forced message alert to any and every known
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`member of the communication network. When operating in an open network mode whereall
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`that know the password can join the network, the default list is created or expanded as new
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`members join.
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`Referring now to Figure 3A and Figure 3B, the process of sending a forced message
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`alert from a PC or PDA/cell phone begins with a sender selecting the forced message alert
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`software application program on a sender PC or PDA/cell phone. ‘The sender can then select
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`by said sender PC or PDA/cell phone to type a text message or record a voice message or
`select the text alert or voice alert fromalist. Once the sender types a text message or records a
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`voice message or selects a voice or text message on said PC or PDA/cell phone, the sender can
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`then use a soft switch or selection from a list to send the forced alert to: a.) Another network
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`participant, b.) The current PC or PDA/cell phone network participants or c.) A user or
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`administrator predefined list of network participants. The response list from which the
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`message receiver must select can either be included in the forced alert message or be
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`preloaded in each phone. The forced alert message is then transmitted via TCP/IP or other
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`digital transmission means to every PC or PDA/cell phone designated to receive the forced
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`messagealert either directly or through a server whose function is to retransmit the messages
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`to the correct users in the communications network.
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`After the forced message alert is transmitted,
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`the sender PC or PDA/cell phone
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`monitors for and receives electronic transmissions with acknowledgments of receipt from the
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`PCs or PDA/cell phones that have received the forced messagealert. ‘Then, the sender PC or
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`PDA/cell phone provides an indication of which of the PC or PDA/cell phonethat the forced
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`message alert was sent to have acknowledged receipt and which of the PC or PDA/cell phone
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`that the forced message alert was sent to have not acknowledged receipt on its display. The —
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`sender PC or PDA/cell phone will then periodically resend ihe forced message alert to the PC
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`or PDA/cell phone that have not acknowledged receipt.
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`The sender PC or PDA/cell phone also monitors for and receives electronic
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`transmissions with manual responses to the forced message alert from the PC or PDA/cell
`phonethat receivedthe message. As these electronic transmissions with manual responses are
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`received, the sender PC or PDA/cell phone displays an indication of the response from each
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`recipient cell phone, integrated PDA/cell phone and PC,
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`Referring now to Figure 4, the process of receiving, acknowledging and respondingto
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`a forced message alert from the sender PC or PDA/cell phone begins when an electronic
`transmission is
`received by a recipient PC or PDA/cell phone. When the electronic
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`transmission is received by the recipient PC or PDA/cell phone, the recipient PC or PDA/cell
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`phone identifies the transmission as a forced message alert and the forced message alert
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`software application program on the recipient PC or PDA/cell phone separates the text or
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`voice message and the forced message alert software packet. Immediately following the
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`detection of the forced message alert, the forced message alert software application program
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`on the recipient PC or PDA/cell phone prepares and electronically transmits an automatic
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`acknowledgementof receipt to the sender PC or PDA/cell phone. However, if the recipient PC
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`or PDA/cell phone is powered off or is not able to receive electronic transmissions, the forced
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`message alert is not received by the recipient PC or PDA/celi phone and no acknowledgment
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`is transmitted. Ifno acknowledgementis received, the sender PC or PDA/cell phone continues
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`to transmit the forced alert at a predefined rate until acknowledged.
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`After the acknowledgement of receipt ts transmitted, the forced voice alert software
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`10
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`application program effectively takes control of the recipient PC or PDA/cell phone. If a text
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`message was received, the forced voice alert software application program causes the text
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`message and the response list to be shown on the display of the recipient PC or PDA/cell
`phone until a manual response is selected from the responselist. Upon selection ofthe desired
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`response, the forced alert text data is cleared from the recipient PC or PDA/cell phone display.
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`15
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`If a voice message was received, the forced voice alert software application program causes
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`the voice message to be periodically repeated using the speakers of the recipient PC or
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`PDA/cell phone while the response list is shown on the display. ‘This voice message cannot be
`stopped from repeating until one ofthe entries on the response List is selected.
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`Once a response is selected or recorded and transmitted to the sender PC or PDA/cell
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`20
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`phone, the forced message alert software application program releases effective control of the
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`
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`- [8 -
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`recipient PC or PDA/cell phone, clears the display, and or stops repeating the voice message
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`and transmits the response to the force alert sender.
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`The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be
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`the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may --
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`be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will
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`occur to a person skilled in the art.
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`