Data communications network utilising satellite communications to provide emergency alert warnings

A data communications network and a method of operating same for providing emergency alert warnings to users, the method operated within the data communications network comprising:

• monitoring, by a server of the data communications network, user locations according to the location of user devices configured to operate a software application that enables the devices to receive satellite signals and transmit GPS location data, wherein monitoring the location of each user device is based upon the GPS location data transmitted by the user device;
• monitoring, by the server, satellite signal strength according to all available satellite signals in operable receiving range of the user device according to the location of the user device, and automatically selecting a satellite with the strongest signal or a satellite determined to be most likely to successfully transfer alert communications;
• receiving, by the server, information regarding emergency or alert conditions in respect of one or more geographical locations;
• issuing, by the server utilizing the selected satellite, alert warnings to selected user devices located in geographical regions for which an emergency or alert condition is applicable according to the received information regarding emergency or alert conditions;
• and
• based upon the server receiving the alert warning, causing, by the server, via the software application each selected user device in the geographical region for which the emergency or alert condition is applicable, to integrate with one or more input/output devices associated with the user that are in operable communication with the user device according to near field communications, such that any emergency or alert condition is automatically communicated to each user audibly and/or visually using the one or more input/output devices.

A computer-implemented method for providing emergency alert warnings to users, the method comprising:

• monitoring, by a server of a data communications network, user locations according to the location of user devices configured to operate a software application that enables the devices to receive satellite signals and transmit GPS location data, wherein monitoring the location of each user device is based upon the GPS location data transmitted by the user device;
• monitoring, by the server, satellite signal strength according to all available satellite signals in operable receiving range of the user device according to the location of the user device, and automatically selecting a satellite with the strongest signal or a satellite determined to be most likely to successfully transfer alert communications;
• receiving, by the server, information regarding emergency or alert conditions in respect of one or more geographical locations;
• issuing, by the server, utilizing the selected satellite, alert warnings to selected user devices located in geographical regions for which an emergency or alert condition is applicable according to the received information regarding emergency or alert conditions;
• and
• based upon the server receiving the alert warning, causing, by the server via the software application, each selected user device in the geographical region for which the emergency or alert condition is applicable, to integrate with one or more input/output devices associated with the user that are in operable communication with the user device according to near field communications, such that any emergency or alert condition is automatically communicated to each user audibly and/or visually using the one or more input/output devices.

A user device operable to connect with, and transceive, data with a data communications network comprising to receive emergency alert communications, wherein the user device:

• operates a software application that enables the device to receive satellite signals and transmit GPS location data, and to monitor the physical location of the device according to GPS location functionality of the device and transmit current location data to a server of the data communications network;
• monitors satellite signal strength in respect of all available satellite signals in operable range of the user device, the user device automatically selecting the satellite with the strongest reception signal or a satellite determined to be the most likely satellite from which the user device will receive emergency alert communications;
• receive, via the selected satellite an alert warnings based on the device located in a geographical region for which an emergency or alert condition is applicable according to information received by the server regarding emergency alert communications in respect of one or more geographical locations;
• integrates with one or more input/output devices in operable communication range of the user device such that any emergency alert communications are automatically communicated to the user audibly and/or visually using the one or more input/output devices.