SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISAEMINATING EARLY WARNING MESSAGES

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention, generally, relates to the field of early warning systems. Mori particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for disseminating eart warning messages effectively using mobile communications and grid computing architectures.

Background of the Invention

[0002] With frequent occurrences of natural calamities, such as, earthquake, floods, tsi cyclone, tornado, volomo, fire hazards, epidemic prone diseases etc.. Early Warning Sy; (EWS) are in great demand. Typically, an Early Warning System (EWS) is a timely surveillan( system, which collects information about natural calamities and triers warning alerts (i referred as Early Warning Message (EWM)) to public in a geographical area of the na calamity. However, traditional EWS are rudimentary and are of passive nature such as television radio and World Wide Web (WWW) etc. EWS based on such public broadcast mechanisms often unreliable as the person likely to be affected by a calamity need to be attentively watch the television or to be listening to the radio as the news of the likely calamity is being broad In such cases, news of impeding danger not reaching a person likely to be affected by forthcoming calamity is extremely high.

[0003] Until very recently the above were the only modes of conveying the news of the imminent calamity. In the recent years, a few active EWS have been proposed to overcome passiveness inherent in the traditional modes of conveying warning messages. For example, automatic telephone notifications of locations in a to ma do path to people "whose contact number are registered with the early warning system. However, there are only a hand of such ac early warning systems and are largely associated with a number of drawbacks. For when an attempt is made to contact a large set of people in a short time interval, a bandwidth becomes a bottleneck.

[0004] A further drawback, in case of automatic telephone notification is that a user (i referred as subscriber) needs to register his telephone number with the EWS and if he fails to do so, he is not informed of calamity even if he is m the affected region. Furthermore, the EWS typically, continues to deliver EWM to a user if he has moved out of the affected region and ii not currently present therein. Such situations are commonly encountered in tourist destinations.

[0005] In yet another scenario, since the subscriber's telephone number is linked to the zip code and the telephone prefix information, the aforementioned EWS will repeatedly try to contact aai notify the subscriber even though the subscriber is not physically located in the area (the area ti be affected by the calamity), thus wasting network resources and causing inconvenience to subscriber. In other words, on one hand the EWS will necessarily try to establish contact with subscriber even though the subscriber is not physically present at the affected region. On other hand, the EWS will fail to inform subscribers whose zip code information and the telephone prefix information does not match that of the geographic area of his current location.

[0006] Still further, use of existing EWS does not guarantee that the intended subscriber indeed received the news i.e. there is no confirmation that the message has indeed been deliver^ ^ and has been read by the subscriber. For example, in the case of flush floods during the ni: time, it is quite likely that most of the people would be asleep and may not take the call or have switched their cell phones off. In such instances, the current EWS make no attempt to rei these persons through alternative means.

[0007] Furthermore, in any disaster management scenario, there may be situations where people may be crossing affected regions. The EWS will fail to notify EWM to such people as telephone numbers with zip code and the telephone prefix information do not belong to the affected region a and are not registered with the EWS. Still further, existing EWS do not address network bandwidth becoming a bottleneck when extremely large set of people need to be addressed m shortest possible time interval.

[0008] Thus, there is a requirement of a robust, holistic and cost effective EWS designed overcome the above-mentioned limitations that delivers EWM efficiently W^CTC subscribers i re geographically dispersed and message is to be delivered in the shortest possible time.

Summary of the Invention

[009] A method for disseminating Early Warning Messages (EWMs) to one or more subsci ber terminals by an Early Warning Unit (EWU) in a mobile communication network is provii ed The method comprises identifying at least one base station in a first region for disseminating the EWMs; sending a trigger signal to the at least one base station for initiating the disseminatio; i of the EWMs; sending an invitation request by the at least one base station to one or more peer I ase stations in a second region; receiving subscriber details of the one or more subscriber termi: lals by the EWU, wherein the subscriber details of the one or more subscriber terminals are sen by the at least one base station and the one or more peer base stations; and selectively dissemina in. the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals based on location details of the subscr ber terminals using a grid computing architecture. The grid computing architecture facilitates pari llel dissemination of the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals by splitting the subscrfjer details into one or more data fragments.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises receiving subscriber details of the one or more subscriber terminals serviced by the at least one base station in a second region.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first region is an epicenter region of one or more natural calamities and the second region is a region adjoining the first region.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one base station is identifiec based on matching geographical location of the at least one base station with data pertaining to the first region.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the method fiirther comprises assigning s priority level to each subscriber terminal based on the geographical location of the one of more subscriber terminals; and disseminating the EWMs to the one or more subscribed terminals based on the corresponding priority levels.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, a highest priority is assigned to the subscriber terminals having residence in an epicenter area and being currently located in the epicenter area.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, a lowest priority is assigned to the subscriber terminal not having residence in an epicenter area and not being currently located in the epicenter area.

[0016] A system for disseminating Elarly Warning Messages (EWMs) to one or more subscriber terminals by an Early Warning Unit (EWU) in a mobile communication network is provided. The system comprises one or more subscriber terminals, one or more base stations and EWU. The one or more base stations comprises a receiving unit configured to receive a targer signal fixim the EWU; a first transmitting unit configured to send an invitation request by a base station to at least one peer base station; a second transmitting unit configured to send subscriber details of the subscriber terminals to the EWU; and an out unit configured to deliver the EWMs to the EWU for selective dissemination of the EWMs to the subscriber terminals. The EWU comprises a first output unit configured to send a trigger signal to the one or more base stations; a first database configured to maintain located subscriber details serviced by the one or more base stations; and a second output unit configured to facilitate selective dissemination of the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals and to employ a grid computing architecture for facilitating parallel dissemination of the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals.

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the EWU further comprises a second database configured to store details of the one or more base stations.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the EWU Anther comprises a third database configured to store details of regions prone to risk of one or more natural calamities.

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the EWU further comprises an idraitifying unit configured to identify at least one base station in at least one region prone to risk of one or more natural calamities.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, the one or more base stations further comprises an input/output unit configured to send or receive message to or from the at least one peer base station to deliver the EWMs to the EWU.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second output unit is configured to facilitate selective dissemination of the EWMs to the at least one subscriber terminal by assigning a priority level to each subscriber terminal based on geographical location of the subscriber terminal.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings

[0022] The present mention is described by way of embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a mobile communication network operating in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an early warning unit in accordance with an embodiment the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a base station in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram depicting the categorization of subscriber based on geographical location of the subscriber terminals in accordance with an embodiment the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 5 is an exemplary contour diagram illustrating a procedure for monitoring the movement of subscriber terminals in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and

[0028] FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of disseminating EWM performed by the early warning unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0029] A system and method for providing an efficient and cost effective early warning system are described herein. The invention provides for a system that facilitates efficient dissemination of EWM to subscribers by employing mobile communication network and grid computing architectures.

[0030] The following disclosure is provided in order to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. Exemplary embodiments are provided only for illustrative purposes and various modifications will be readily apparent to sensors skilled in the art. Tin general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, the terminology and phraseology use is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments and should not be considered limiting Thus, the present invention is to accorded the widest scope encompassing numerou^ alternatives, modifications and equivalents consistent with the principles and featines disclosed For purpose of clarity, details relating to technical material that is known in the technical fiel^ related to the invention have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure present invention.

[00311 The present invention would now be discussed in context of embodunents as illustrate I in the accompanying drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile communication network 100 operating i k accordance with an embodimoit of the present invention. The mobile coimnunication netwo 100 comprises a subscriber terminal 102, base station 104, an Eariy Watning Unit (EWU) 1 and a remote sensing system 108.

[0033] Mobile communication network 100 is a network where one or more users/subscri and nodes communicate witii each other over a medium 110 using mobile communication standards. Examples of mobile communications standards include, but are not limited to, Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or anji otiier mobile telephony network.

[0034] Subscriber terminal 102 is a device vMch may be used by a user/subscriber fw communicating with other users m the mobile communication network 100. hi an embodiment ol the present invention, the subscriber temiinal 102 may be a wireless/handheld device. Btamples of subscriber terminal 102 include, but are not limited to, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, laptops, notebooks, portable navigators, etc.

[0035] Base station 104 is an entity which provides subscriber terminals 102 access to network resources in a mobile communication network 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the base station 104 is a transceiver which may be used to transmit and receive voice and data and from the subscriber terminal 102. hi various embodiments of the present invention, the basstation 104 may service one or more subscriber termmals 102 and may be operated by dUQTerenj service providers. |

[0036] EWU 106 is an entity which may be used to facilitate dissemination of Early Wamiim Messages (EWMs) to the subscriber terminal 102. In an embodiment of the present invention! the EWM is an alert message mfonmng the subscriber terminals 102 of occurrence of one a more natural calamities (e.g. earthquake, cyclone, tornado, hurricane etc.). The EWU 106 may ht centrally managed by authorities responsible for combating the effects of one or more natura calamities.

[0037] Remote sensing system 108 is aji entity v^ch may be used to facilitate collection of dat on geographical area/location to be affected by one or more natural calamities fiom one or mor i external systems. Examples of remote sensing system 108 mclude, but are not limited to, a system, a sonar system, a seismogn^h etc. In an embodiment of the present invention, remote sensing system 108 may be a radar system which may be used to collect data (e.: geogr^hical coordinates) of a location to be affected by tornado from a meteon>logi< department.

[0038] Operationally, in an embodiment, the EWU 106 communicates with the remote sensing system 108 to receive data pertaining to the area likely to be affected by natural calamities (als( referred as epicenter). In various embodiments of the present invention, the data may be obtaine( from one or more known external systems capable of detecting natural calamities using knowi techniques. The natural calamities may also impact the regions that surround the epicenter (als( referred as peripheral zone). In an embodiment of the present invention, the remote sensing system 108 may be a radar system that collects data, from a meteorological department regarding geographical area to be affected by, say, a tornado. The data, for example, may b< geographical coordinates of the epicenter. Based on the data obtained from the radar system, th< EWU 106, usmg known techniques, derives information of the geographic area which has i significant possibility of being in the tornado path.

[0039] In various embodiments of the present invention, the remote sensing system 108 ma] communicate with the EWU 106 via a communication link 120. The communication link 12( can be a direct hard wired connection, or can be any other suitable method of connection, such a: land line, cellular telephone, radio communications, satellite interface, wireless interface computer network interface such as the Internet, etc. It will be appreciated that the link is define^ by performance characteristics suitable for efficient communication between the early wamini unit 106 and the base station 104. In addition, it will be intuitive to those skilled in the art that th EWU 104 and the radar system 108 can be remotely located or may be located in the sam| facility.

[10040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the EWU 106 communicates with the bas : station 104 over the medium 110 using the information daived from the remote sensing systei i 108 to communicate with the base station 102 for fecilitating dissemination of EWM ft r facilitatmg dissemination to the subscriber terminal 102.

[0041] Alternately, in an embodiment, authorities managing the EWU 106 can demarcate region (e.g. tourist destination and similar places with high population density) a-priori wiftj i which EWM are to be disseminated using known techniques. Accordingly, the EWU communicates with the base station 102 that lies within the demarcated region for facilitatmgi dissemination of EWM to the subscriber terminal 102.

[0042] FIG.2 is a block diagram illustrating components of an EWU 200 in accordance with aA embodiment of the present invention. EWU 200 includes a first database 202, a second database 204, a third database 206, an identifying unit 208, a first out unit 210, and a second out unit 212.

[00431 First database 202 is an entity that may be configured to maintain details of the subscribed terminals 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the details may include zip code information and telephone prefix information associated with the subscriber terminals 102.

[0044] Second database 204 is an etttity that may be configured to maintain data regarding geographical location of one or more base stations 104 (FIG.l). bi an embodiment of the presen invention, the data can be zip code rnibrmation of the base station 104 or any other data that enables identification of a particular base station 104 servicing a portion of a particulai geographical area.

[0045] Third database 206 is an entity that may be configured to maintain data regard! geographical areas to be affected by natural calamities (e.g. earthquake, cyclone, tornado etc.). I| an embodiment of the presentt invention, the data (e.g. geographical coordinates of the area to bj affected by natural calamities) may be obtained fixed the remote sensing system 108 (FIG.l).

[0046] Identifying unit 208 is an entity that may be configured to identify base stations 104 ij i the geogr^hical area to be affected by one or more natural calamities. In an embo(Umeiit of th| s present invention, the identifying unit may be a computing system capable of processing d stored in the second database 204 and the thurd database 206 to identify the base station 1 Known techniques may be employed to process the stored data and obtain information regard! the location of the base station 104 stationed in the area to be affected by one or more calamities.

[00471 First output unit 210 is an entitj- that may be configured to send a trigger signal to the base station 104. In an embodiment, the first output unit 210 may be a computing system enable of generating the trigger signal. The trigger signal triggers the base station 104 to commence the process to disseminate EWMs.

[0048] Second output unit 212 is an entity that may be configured to facilitate dissemination of EWMs to the subscriber terminal 102 (FIG. 1). In an embodiment of the present invention, the second output unit 212 may be a computing system that facilitates dissemination of EWMs selectively to the intended subscriber terminal 102. The second out unit 212 uses grid computing architecture that facilitates massive parallel dissemination of EWMs quickly and at low cost In various embodiments of the present invention, use of grid computing architecture result in usage of idle computers across state or country for generating EWMs and foij performing computation intensive calculations associated with selective dissemination. The grid! computing architecture may enable distribution of the calculations onto a disbibuted infrastructure resulting in lowering of overall cost. In an embodiment of the present invention, d grid management system may be able to gather information from different grid resources aruj feed the information to a grid workflow manager, which may distribute the calculations over that infrastructure based on resource usage. Use of grid computing architecture therefore enables tcj bring down the execution time and total cost of ownership.

[0049] In an alternate embodiment, the second output unit 212 may be functionally connected a central messaging gateway (not shown). In this embodiment, the central messaging gatewa; may store the details of the subscriber terminal 102 received from the base station 104. varioxis embodiments of Ae present invention, the central message gateway leverages a grii computing architecture to dissoninate the EWMs in parallel to the intended subscriber 102 (FIG. 1).

[0050] Operationally, in an embodiment, the identifying unit 208 may use known techniques obtain information regarding the geographical area that is to be affected based on tiie data stoi in the second database 204. For example, the geographic area may be represented as a trapezoj shape defined by four comer points or an irregular shape with an unlimited number of boi uc luiiiicu lu «;pr«»cni ine geographic area, in various embodiments of the present invention, known techniques may be employed by the identifying unit 108 to process the data stored in tiie second database 204 and the third database 206 to perform matching of the data U identify the at least one base station. In another embodiment, tie identifying unit 108 is opeiatec by external authorities (as mentioned in para 0029) to perform flie identification using data storec in the first database 202.

[0051] Subsequently, the first ou^ut unit 210 operates in conjunction with the identifying uni 208 to generate the trigger signal. The trigger signal is communicated to the base station 104 h] the medium 110 using any suitable metiiod. In various embodiments of the present invention, th^ second output unit 212 facilitates dissemination of the EWM using grid computing architectun that allows massive parallel dissemination of EWM quickly and at low cost. Typically, usin( grid technology, the subscriber details received from the one or more base stations 104 ii processed at the second output unit 212 to be chunked for parallel dissemination of the EWMai In particular, data from each base station 102 (FIG.l) is processed individually that results ii| massive parallelism for quick dissemination of the £ WMs.

[0052] In an aiteroate embodiment of the present invention, subscriber details of subscribe terminals 102 (FIG.l) and the EWMs are sent by the base station 104 to the centralized messa gateway that is functionally connected to the second output unit 212 (FIG.2). The centraliz message gateway leverages a grid infrastructure to selectively disseminate the EWM in parall( to all the intended subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l). For example, a Job Fanning Framewo (JFF) in a grid workflow manager may be leveraged to chunk the details received from the basj; stations 104 into a shorter list for jjarallel dissemination of the EWMs to the intended subscrib«j • terminals 102 (FIG.l).

[0053] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustifating components of a base station 300 in accordan* with an embodiment of the present invention. The base station 300 includes a receiving unit 3( a first transmitting unit 304, a second transmitting unit 306, an output unit 308 and input/output unit 310.

[0054] In an embodiment of the present invention, the base stations are linked to the EWU. I^ case of a natural calamity, be it earth quakes or thunderstorms or hmricane, there is an epicentej winch is likely to be the most affected areas and adjoining area and may affect the adjoining areas, called the peripheral region, as well. The epicenter zone and the peripheral zone may over several base stations.

[0055] Receiving unit 302 is an entity that may be configured to receive the trigger signal (referred in description of FIG. 2). In an embodiment of the present invention, the receiving unit 302 may be a computing system capable of receiving and reading the EWMs contained m that trigger signal.

[0056] First transmitting unit 304 may be an entity configured to communicate with peer base stations 300 servicing one or more subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l), in a cellular architecture, in the neighboring areas. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first transmitting unit 30 may be a computing system operative to transmit a request to the peer base stations 300 tparticipate in sending EWMs to the subscriber terminals 102. In various embodiments of the present invention, the request may be an invitation message transmitted to the peer base stationij 300 over the medium 110 (FIG.l) to pajticipate in sending EWM to the subsaiber terminals 102 (FIG.l)

[0057] Second transmitting unit 306 is an entity that may be configured to transmit details of tb subscriber terminals 102 to the EWU 106 (FIG. 1). In an embodiment of the present invention the second transmitting unit 306 is a computing system configured to send subsaiber details (e.j | zip code information, telephone number prefix associated with the mobile numbw) to the E 106.

[0058] Output unit 308 may be an entity configured to deliver the EWM to the EWU 106 disseminating the EWM to the subscriber terminal 102. In an embodiment of fbs pres invention, the output unit 308 is a computing system capable of processing data for generatii and transmitting EWM to the EWU 106 over the medium 110. In another embodiment of present invention, the oulput unit 308 is configured to deliver the EWM to the subscril terminals 102 throv^ a central message gateway (as described in FIG. 2).

[0059] Input/output unit 310 is an entity that may be configured to send or receive messag s to or from peer base stations 300. The message represents data to initiate delivery of EWM tci the subscriber terminals 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the input/output unit 310 may be a computing system capable of processing data to generate a message that inform; the peer base stations 300 of the commencement of the delivery of the EWM to the subsci ber terminals 102. In various embodiments of the present invention, the peer base station 300 ma ' be the originating base station 300 that sends the message to the peer base stations 300 via the input/output unit 310. In an embodiment of the present invention, a single delivery of the EV Ms from the base stations 300 and peer base stations 300 may include hundreds to thousand of subscriber terminals 102 currently wdthin its reach. Once the EWMs are delivered, the 1 ase station 300 and the peer base stations 300 remembers its state as messages delivered. Ii an alternate embodiment, the base stations 300 and the peer base stations 300 delivers the E^S Ms and the subscriber details to the central message gateway along with the subscriber details.

[0060] Operationally, in various embodiments of the present invention, the base station iOO receives the trigger signal from the EWU 106 (FIG. 1) and sends the invitation request to the peer base station 300 to participate in disseminating the EWMs. Then, the base station 300 se ids the subscriber details of the subscriber terminals 102 (FIG. 1) and the EWMs to the EWU 06 (FIG. 1). Upon sending the EWMs for delivery to the EWU 106 or the central message gatei ^ay (without waiting for acknowledgement), the base station 300 sends messages to the peer I ise stations 300 to initiate the message delivery. In an embodiment, this message may be propagi ted through flooding. The flooding process is discussed in detail with respect to FIG. 6. This ens\ res all the subscriber terminals 102 (FIG. 1) within the purview of all the participating base stations receive the EWMs.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 4, in an embodiment of the present invention, the second output' nit 212 (FIG. 2) is configured to segregate the subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) into four cla; 5es based on their current locations. Accordingly, priority levels are assigned and EWM is dissemmated to the subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) selectively (hereinafter referred as inten|ed subscriber terminals 102) based on the following categorization into class A, B, C and D.

(i) Class A: Subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) having their residence in an
epicenter of the geographical location identified to be impacted by nat iral calamity (also reftirred as risk zone or first region) but are not physic illy present in the epicenter area.

(ii) Class B: Subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) having their residence elsewl ere
and are not physically present in the epicenter. These are the subscr ber terminals 102 (FIG.l) present in the peripheral zone (also referred as sec|nd region).

(iii) Class C: Subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) having their residence in jthe epicenter area and are physically present in the epicenter area.

(iv) Class t): Subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) having their residence elsewlj^re and are physically present in the epicenter area.

[0062] Subscriber terminals 102 (FIGf.l) belonging to class C and class D are at greatest i isk from the natural calamity. Accordingly highest priority may be assigned to class C and clas D subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) for sending out the EWM. Class A and class B subscri )er terminals 102 (FIG.l) are assigned lov/er priorities. In particular, a low priority is assigned to the subscriber terminals 102 if the zip code or telephone pre-fix information of the subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) indicate their association with the epicenter (e.g. by virtue of tl eir residence being there) but are not physically present in the location at the moment as |he subscriber terminals 102 are already out of danger zone.

[0063] In an embodiment of the present invention, with respect to class B, since the subscri ler terminals 102 (FIG.l) are currently present in the peripheral zone/second region, movemeni of each individual in this set is monitored for a fraction of time.

[0064] FIG. 5 is an example contour diagram illustrating the monitoring procedure. For examj le, if the subscriber terminal 102 is in location Bi at time / and is in location Bj at time t+xT, tl en from the direction of travel, it can be determined whether the subscriber terminal's 102 (FIG 1) path passes through the epicenter. Subscriber terminal 102 (FIG.l) detected to be travelling any
from the epicenter may not receive the EWM ( for example subscriber terminal 102 (FlG.i; position B\ in FIG. 5). In addition, subscriber terminals 102 (FIG. 1) not likely to pass througl i the epicenter may not receive EWM (foi example subscriber terminal 102 (FIG.l) at position C in FIG.6). The subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) likely to pass through the epicenter zone aay receive the EWM (for example subscriber terminal 102 in FIG. 1).

[0065] In various embodiments of the present invention, in the event of a hand off wh( a a subscriber terminal 102 moves from one base station to a peer base station, the EWU 106, >00 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) examines to see if the two base station 104, 300 involved in the hand off have completed their message delivery (discussed in detail with respect to message delive y). The EWU 106,200 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) causes the peer base station 104, 300 (FIG. 1 and FIG 3) to send the EWM to the subscriber terminal 102 in the event the base station 104, 300 (FI( . 1 and FIG. 3) has not completed delivery of the EWM to the subscriber terminal 102.

[0066] In various embodiments of the present invention, after certain pre-defined time (sa f a week) has elapsed and if the probability of a subscriber terminal 102 (FIG.l) returning to :he epicenter is low, the subscriber details; can be purged from the EWU 106, 200 (FIG. 1 and F G. 2). Thus, the EWM may be disseminated to only those subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) wh ch are physically present in the epicenter. Keeping such subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l), which ire already out of the epicenter, low in the priority list saves precious time. Thus, the pres mt invention is capable of informing subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) even if zip code informal on and the telephone prefix information of the subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) do not match v ith the geographic area of the subscriber terminal 102 (FIG.l) current location. By assigning high ;st priority to subscriber termmals 102 (FIG.l) physically present at that moment in the area, e^ en though their zip code information and Ae telephone prefix information does not match that of he geographic area of the subscriber terminals 102 current locations, it is ensured that they ire safely evacuated well in time. By assigjiing low priority to such subscriber terminals 102 (FIG 1) not physically present in the area but have zip code information and the telephone pre information of the geographic area to be affected by the calamity, it is ensured that these setj subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) are informed only after the subscriber terminals 102 (FIG facing the highest risk have been informed. By giving least priority to these subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l), it is ensiu-ed that these set of subscriber terminals 102 (FIG.l) facing the lowest are only warned not to return back till the threat subsides.

[0067] In various embodiments of the present invention, the EWM is disseminated only wh|n a confirmation is received from the subscriber terminal 102 (FIG.l) that the message has read. If for some reason the confirmation does not reach, the subscriber terminal 102 (FIG contacted through alternate means. Tliis may involve finding out the subscriber terminal's (FIG.l) residential address from his mobile/telephone number by backtracking into the station 104, 300 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 3) of the service provider and finding out the telephone/mofile number of the next to kin having the same residential address and making a phone call to number of the subscriber terminals 102 (FIG. 1) next to kin.

[0068] FIG. 6 is an exemplary flov/chart illustrating a method of disseminating EWM accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] At step 602, at least one base station in a geographical area to be affected by one or mi re natural calamities (also referred as first region) is identified. In an embodiment of the pres nt invention, the first region is an epicenter region of one or more natural calamities. In anotl ter embodiment of the present invention, the at least one base station is identified based on matchi jig geographical location of the at least one base station with data pertaining to the first region.

[0070] At step 604, a trigger signal is sent to the base station identified to be in the first regi( n The trigger signal initiates the dissemination of EWMs to the subscriber terminals located in areas to be affected by one or more natural calamities.

[0071] At step 606, a request is sent by the base station to one or more peer base stations. In various embodiments of the present invention, peer base stations are base stations that serve second region i.e. the area peripheral to the epicenter. The request is for participating in tlie dissemination of EWMs. Thus, the base station commences the process of estabUshing coverage area of the epicenter and the peripheral area where the EWMs are required to He disseminated. Further, the base station sends a message to one or more peer base stations, message represents data to initiate delivery of EWMs to the EWU for dissemination.

[0072] In an embodiment, the base station in the epicenter transmits the request using a flooi tag hop count method. Typically, flooding hop-count is the relative distance of a particular 1 ase station from the epicenter. In the flooding hop-count method, a flooding message is transmi ted on a spare link. The flooding message may include a message type field, a sender node ID fit in this case an originating base station), an index field, a chooser node ID field and a hop c( field containing certain number of ho]3 counts. Typically, a hop count is a value that may be configured in the flooding message in the hop count field and is decremented by one w die passing from one base station to another. In an embodiment of the present invention, basec on the nature and severity of the disaster/calamity, the flooding hop-counts are determined.

[0073] In various embodiments of the present mvention, base stations containing a cer ain number of flooding hop counts that indicate proximity to the epicenter are selected as :he originating base station. Subsequently, the base station transmits the request to the peer b ise stations to participate in the dissemination by forwarding the request with the current flood ng hop-count. Flooding hop-count is reduced by one, each time the request is sent from one b ise station to another base station. This process is continued till the flooding hop-count is zero. In an embodiment of the present invention, any base station, which has a flooding hop count lar|er than the incoming request, may ignore future requests fi-om peer base stations.

[0074] At step 608, the EWU receives details of the subscriber terminals from the base stati m Further, the EWU receives details of the subscriber terminals firom one or more peer bi se stations. For example, the details may include zip code or telephone prefix informati )n associated with the mobile/telephone of the subscriber termiaal. Thus, in an embodiment, base station detects presence of a subscriber terminal in its vicinity and sends the details to EWU using the second transmitting unit configured in the base station. In another embodimi of the present mvention, when a subscriber terminal leaves the epicenter, the information relayed to the EWU.

[0075] At step 610, the EWMs are disseminated selectively to the subscriber terminals basec on location details of the subscriber terminals. In particular, in an embodiment, the EWMs are disseminated using a grid computing architecture, wherein the grid computing architec ure facilitates parallel dissemination of the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals by splitting the subscriber details into one or more data fragments. In various embodiments of the present invention, the dissemination of EWMs is performed by assigning a priority level to e ich subscriber terminal based on the current geographical location of the subscriber terminal ind forecasting likely destination from the subscriber terminal's current location and directioi of movement. In an embodiment, a highest priority level is assigned to a subscriber terminal ha-s ing residence in an epicenter area and being currently located in the epicenter area. In ano lier embodiment of the present invention, a lowest priority level is assigned to a subscriber term aal not having residence in an epicenter area. Based on the priority levels assigned, EWMs |are disseminated to the intended subscriber terminals.

[0076] Advantageously, the present invention eliminates the requirement of users/subscriber | to register with the early warning unit. Further, the present invention provides an effective soluf on to send early warning messages and communicating the same to all the intended recipients Jlh a short time interval taking into account the dynamics of the subscriber terminal. Moreover, |he present invention enables reduction in the number of duplicated messages sent to |he users/subscribers and thus overcome the difficulties posed by clogged network.

[0077] While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein, it will be appreciated that they are merely illustrative. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method for disseminating Early Warning Messages (EWMs) to one or more subscriber terminals by an Early Warning Unit (EWU) in a mobile communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying at least one base station in a first region for disseminating the sending a trigger signal to the at least one base station for initiating the dissemination of the EWMs;

sending a request by the at least one base station to one or more peer base stations in a second region, the request being an invitation to participate in the dissemination of the EWMs;

receiving subscriber details of the one or more subscriber terminals by thee EWU, wherein the subscriber details of the one or more subscriber terminals are sent by the at least one base station and the one or more peer base stations; and

selectively disseminating the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals based on location details of the subscriber terminals using a grid computing architecture, wherein the grid computing architecture facilitates parallel dissemination of the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals by splitting the subscriber details into one or more data fragments.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving subscriber details of the one or more subscriber terminals serviced by the at least one base station in a second region.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first region is an epicenter region of one or more natural calamities and the second region is a region adjoining the first region.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one base station is identified based on matching geographical location of the at least one base station with data pertaining to the first region.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selectively disseminating the EWMs further comprises the steps of:

assigning a priority level to each subscriber terminal based on the geographical location of the one or more subscriber terminals; and

disseminating the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals based on the corresponding priority levels.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a highest priority level is assigned to a subscriber terminals having residence in an epicenter area and being currently located in the epicenter area.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a lowest priority is assigned to a subscriber terminal not: having residence in an epicenter area and not being currently located in the epicenter area.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a message to the one or more peer base stations by the at least one base station, wherein the message directs the one or more peer base stations to deliver the EWMs to the EWU for dissemination.

9. A system for disseminating Early Warning Messages (EWMs) to one or more subscribe:; terminals by an Early Warning Unit (EWU) in a mobile communication network, the system comprising:

one or more subscriber terminals;

one or more base stations, each base station comprising;

a receiving unit configured to receive a trigger signal from the EWU;

a first transmitting unit configured to send a request by a base station the at least one peer base station, the request being an invitation to participate in dissemination of EWMs to at least one subscriber terminal;

a second transmitting unit configured to send subscriber details of the subscriber terminals to the EWU; and

an output unit configured to deliver the EWMs to the EWU for selective dissemination of the EWMs to the subscriber terminals; and the EWU, the EWU comprising:

a first output unit configured to send a trigger signal to the one or more base stations;

a first database configured to maintain updated subscriber details serviced by the one or more base stations; and

a second output unit configured to facilitate selective dissemination of the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals and to employ a grid computing architecture for facilitating parallel dissemination of the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the EWU further comprises a second database configured to store details of the one or more base stations.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the EWU further comprises a third database configured to store details of regions prone to risk of one or more natural calamities.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the EWU further comprises an identifying unit configured to identify at least one base station in at least one region prone to risk of one or more natural calamities.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more base stations further comprises an input/output unit configured to send or receive message to or from the at least one peer base stations to deliver the EWMs to the EWU.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the second output unit is configured to facilitate selective dissemination of the EWMs to the one or more subscriber terminals by assigning a priority level to each subscriber terminal based on geographical location of the subscriber terminal.