Systems and methods for crisis management and situational awareness

A method for managing events, performed by software operating on a server, the server comprising a processor configured for executing the software, a network interface configured for communicating with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, and a memory configured for storing the software and information, the method comprising:

• defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;
• receiving, from a first one of the client devices via the communication network, first information and, in association with the first information, first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;
• storing the received first information and, in association therewith, the received first data in the memory;
• permitting ones of the client devices to access the received first information via the communication network;
• receiving, from a second one of the client devices via the communication network, second information and, in association with the second information, second data indicating a second item to which the second information pertains;
• storing the received second information and, in association therewith, the received second data in the memory;
• and
• permitting ones of the client devices to access the received second information via the communication network,
• wherein, if the first and second items are the same, the first and second information are stored in association with each other, and
• wherein the first and second client devices may be the same or different devices.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine-accessible medium containing instructions that, when executed by a system comprising a processor, a network interface configured for communicating with a plurality of client devices via a communication network, and a memory configured for storing the instructions and information, enable the system to perform operations comprising:

• defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;
• receiving, from a first one of the client devices via the communication network, first information and, in association with the first information, first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;
• storing the received first information and, in association therewith, the received first data in the memory;
• permitting ones of the client devices to access the received first information via the communication network;
• receiving, from a second one of the client devices via the communication network, second information and, in association with the second information, second data indicating a second item to which the second information pertains;
• storing the received second information and, in association therewith, the received second data in the memory;
• and
• permitting ones of the client devices to access the received second information via the communication network,
• wherein, if the first and second items are the same, the first and second information are stored in association with each other, and
• wherein the first and second client devices may be the same or different devices.

A client device for managing events, comprising:

• a processor configured for executing software;
• a network interface configured for permitting the client device to communicate with a server and with other client devices via a communication network;
• an input device configured for permitting information to be inputted into the client device;
• a memory configured for storing the software, information inputted via the input device, and information received via the communication network;
• and
• the software executable by the processor, wherein the software when executed performs operations comprising:
• defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;
• receiving first information inputted via the input device;
• associating first data with the first information, the first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;
• transmitting, to the server via the communication network, the first information and, in association with the first information, the first data;
• accessing, from the server via the communication network, second information and, in association therewith, second data indicating a second item to which the second information pertains;
• receiving third information inputted via the input device;
• transmitting the third information to the server and to one or more of the client devices via the communication network;
• and
• receiving fourth information from another client device via the communication network.

A method for managing events, performed by a software application operating on a client device, the client device comprising a processor configured for executing the software application, a network interface configured for permitting the client device to communicate with a server and with other client devices via a communication network, an input device configured for permitting information to be inputted into the client device, and a memory configured for storing the software application, information inputted via the input device, and information received via the communication network, the method comprising:

• defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;
• receiving first information inputted via the input device;
• associating first data with the first information, the first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;
• transmitting, to the server via the communication network, the first information and, in association with the first information, the first data;
• accessing, from the server via the communication network, second information and, in association therewith, second data indicating a second event and a second asset to which the second information pertains;
• receiving third information inputted via the input device;
• transmitting the third information to the server and to one or more of the client devices via the communication network;
• and
• receiving fourth information from another client device via the communication network.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine-accessible medium containing instructions that, when executed by a device comprising a processor, a network interface configured for permitting the processor-based device to communicate with a server and with other devices via a communication network, an input device configured for permitting information to be inputted into the processor-based device, and a memory configured for storing the instructions, information inputted via the input device, and information received via the communication network, enable the system to perform operations comprising:

• defining one or more items, each item comprising an event or an asset;
• receiving first information inputted via the input device;
• associating first data with the first information, the first data indicating a first item to which the first information pertains;
• transmitting, to the server via the communication network, the first information and, in association with the first information, the first data;
• accessing, from the server via the communication network, second information and, in association therewith, second data indicating a second item to which the second information pertains;
• receiving third information inputted via the input device;
• transmit the third information to the server and to one or more of the client devices via the communication network;
• and
• receiving fourth information from another client device via the communication network.