Abstract: An interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) system for users carrying wireless communication devices. The system utilizes portable communication devices that are also capable of capturing and/or sending surveillance information. The system allows users carrying these devices to automatically capture surveillance information, have the information sent to one or more automated and remotely located surveillance (RLS) systems, and establish interactivity for the verification of determining secure or dangerous environments, encounters, logging events, or other encounters or observations. The RLS systems receive information from user communication devices and can follow user-definable parameters that establish the level or type of interactivity and determining when alarms or messages to third parties are needed. An IPSS system is user-definable and may become tailored and may respond to one or more users differently, based on each user's set-up and changes to the system.

Abstract: A personal electronic device (PED) is provided with a system for delivering activity based suggestive (ABS) messages (e.g., a motivational message, etc.) to a user based upon the current or anticipated activity of the user. In some embodiments, the user can define user preferences, which determine when and how ABS messages are initiated. In some embodiments, the message selection is based upon a detected activity, location, or speed of the user. In some embodiments, the message selection is based upon a detection of a local environmental event.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, among other things, various systems and methods for battery remediation in connection with electric powered mobile things (EPMTs). A representative method, among others, can be summarized by the following steps: monitoring electric power capacity (EPC) associated with locomotion of the EPMT; monitoring travel data relating to the EPMT; engaging in a communication session with a remote host computer system (H-CS) based upon the EPC monitoring; requesting assistance of a battery remediation station (BRS) during the communication session; communicating location information relating to the EPMT during the communication session so that the BRS can visit and remediate (recharge, repair, or replace) a battery associated with the EPMT. Upon receiving this information, the H-CS can contact and dispatch the BRS to visit the EPMT. A representative system, among others, comprises an EPMT-CS that is programmed or designed to perform the foregoing steps.

Abstract: An interactive personal surveillance and security (IPSS) system for users carrying wireless communication devices. The system utilizes portable communication devices that are also capable of capturing and or sending surveillance information (video, images, audio, sensor data, etc.). The system allows users carrying these devices to automatically capture surveillance information, have the information sent to one or more automated and remotely located surveillance (RLS) systems, and establish interactivity for the verification of determining secure or dangerous environments, encounters, logging events, or other encounters or observations. The remotely located surveillance (RLS) systems receives information from user communication devices and can follow user-definable parameters that establish the level or type of interactivity and determining when alarms or messages to third parties are needed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for a vehicle status reporting system for allowing a user to define when a user will receive a vehicle status report about the status of a mobile vehicle, in relation to a location, for establishing a communication link between the system and the user, and for delivering the status report during the communication link, the status report indicating occurrence of one or more events.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for maintaining a delivery list having a plurality of packages, for monitoring travel data associated with a vehicle in relation to the delivery list, and for sending, before, during, or after a delivery has been made, a communication to a party associated with a subsequent delivery to notify the party of impending arrival.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for permitting a user to define a plurality of different predetermined proximities corresponding respectively with a plurality of different mobile vehicles in relation to a location, for monitoring travel data associated with the plurality of mobile vehicles, and for notifying one or more communications devices associated with the user based upon the different predetermined proximities associated with the vehicles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for implementation in connection with a computer system. The methods and systems practice the following: receiving an identification of (a) one or more communication methods for notification, (b) one or more mobile vehicles, and (c) one or more locations to be visited by the mobile vehicles, monitoring travel data relating to a proximity of the mobile vehicle to the location, initiating a communication with the party and, during the communication, notifying the party of the purpose of the vehicle's stop at the location.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for maintaining a delivery list having a plurality of stop locations, for monitoring travel data associated with a vehicle in relation to the delivery list, and for, when the vehicle approaches, is at, or leaves a stop location, sending a communication to a party associated with a subsequent stop location to notify the party of impending arrival at the subsequent stop location.

Abstract: An advance notification system notifies users of the impending arrival of a vehicle, for example, an overnight package delivery vehicle, at a particular vehicle stop. The system generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit (VCU) for each vehicle and a base station control unit (BSCU) for sending messages to user computers in order to inform the users when the vehicle resides at a certain predefined time period, distance, prior stop, and/or location point from the vehicle stop. Moreover, vehicle tracking, the BSCU, a computer network (e.g., the Internet), and software located on a user computer may be combined in a plurality of configurations for launching and communicating a message of the impending arrival of a particular vehicle before it arrives. Significantly, the computer message is to advise of the impending arrival and preferably will exhibit a distinctive display and/or sound on the recipient computer so that the recipient is informed of the message.

Abstract: Notification methods and systems are provided. One such method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: enabling a user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing; enabling a user to define one or more criteria when each communications method should be used as opposed to one or more others; monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing; and providing a notification using one or more of the communications methods, based upon the criteria. A notification system, among others, would have a mechanism for performing each of the foregoing steps.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for permitting a user to define a plurality of different predetermined proximities corresponding respectively with a plurality of different mobile vehicles in relation to a location, for monitoring travel data associated with the plurality of mobile vehicles, and for notifying one or more communications devices associated with the user based upon the different predetermined proximities associated with the vehicles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for a vehicle status reporting system for allowing a user to define when a user will receive a vehicle status report about the status of a mobile vehicle, in relation to a location, for establishing a communication link between the system and the user, and for delivering the status report during the communication link, the status report indicating occurrence of one or more events.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for maintaining a delivery list having a plurality of packages, for monitoring travel data associated with a vehicle in relation to the delivery list, and for sending, before, during, or after a delivery has been made, a communication to a party associated with a subsequent delivery to notify the party of impending arrival.

Abstract: Business methods for notification systems are provided. One such method, among others, can be summarized by the following steps: offering to a user a notification service regarding status of travel of a movable thing relative to a location; charging a fee to the user in exchange for the notification service; in accordance with the notification service: (a) enabling the user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing; (b) enabling the user to define one or more criteria when each of the communications methods should be used as opposed to the one or more others; (c) monitoring travel data associated with the movable thing; and (d) providing a notification to the user using at least one of the communications methods based upon a particular proximity of the movable thing to the location and the one or more criteria.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for implementation in connection with a computer system. The methods and systems practice the following: receiving an identification of (a) one or more communication methods for notification, (b) one or more mobile vehicles, and (c) one or more locations to be visited by the mobile vehicles, monitoring travel data relating to a proximity of the mobile vehicle to the location, initiating a communication with the party and, during the communication, notifying the party of the purpose of the vehicle's stop at the location.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for maintaining a delivery list having a plurality of stop locations, for monitoring travel data associated with a vehicle in relation to the delivery list, and for, when the vehicle approaches, is at, or leaves a stop location, sending a communication to a party associated with a subsequent stop location to notify the party of impending arrival at the subsequent stop location.

Abstract: Notification methods and systems are provided. One such method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing; attempting a first communication using a first communications method in order to provide a notification based upon the travel data and upon the relationship of the mobile thing and a location; and when the first communications method is unsuccessful, attempting a second communication using a second communications method, which is different than the first communications method, in order to provide the notification. One such notification system, among others, would have a mechanism for performing each of the foregoing steps.

Abstract: Notification methods and systems are provided. One such method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: enabling a user to define at least two communications methods for receiving notifications relating to travel of a mobile thing; enabling a user to define one or more criteria when each communications method should be used as opposed to one or more others; monitoring travel data associated with the mobile thing; and providing a notification using one or more of the communications methods, based upon the criteria. A notification system, among others, would have a mechanism for performing each of the foregoing steps.

Abstract: An advance notification system notifies users of the impending arrival of a vehicle, for example, an overnight package delivery vehicle, at a particular vehicle stop. The system generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit (VCU) for each vehicle and a base station control unit (BSCU) for sending messages to user computers in order to inform the users when the vehicle resides at a certain predefined time period, distance, prior stop, and/or location point from the vehicle stop. Moreover, vehicle tracking, the BSCU, a computer network (e.g., the Internet), and software located on a user computer may be combined in a plurality of configurations for launching and communicating a message of the impending arrival of a particular vehicle before it arrives. Significantly, the computer message is to advise of the impending arrival and preferably will exhibit a distinctive display and/or sound on the recipient computer so that the recipient is informed of the message.