Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-27
2002-09-10
Metjahic, Safet (Department: 2771)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06449611
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a business model for using the world wide web to provide and disseminate a central data base of stolen goods, missing goods, recovered goods, missing persons, fugitives and activate automated recovery devices, and utilize publicity and public awareness for the database. The invention further provides automated notification, automated temporary or permanent replacement of items, and optionally using e-commerce and/or electronic auctions for replacement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently the Law Enforcement Agencies do not have a worldwide database for stolen items or assets, much less a single national or global database. Typically a police report is taken and only physically filed which includes information pertaining to the stolen assets. If the reporting party has the serial number, the serial number is distributed on a teletype. A majority of smaller sized stolen items (cameras. jewelry, musical instruments, tools, firearms, etc.) are dispersed through pawnshops. Pawnshops are required to report all items taken in by using a method such as one commonly referred to as “Pawn Track”. Pawn dealers are not provided a database of stolen or missing assets which they can use to determine the proper ownership of assets prior to accepting them for pawn. The recovery of stolen items distributed through pawnshops is low. Once a pawn broker fronts money for an item, if the item is determined to be stolen, the victim is required to pay the pawn broker the amount the pawn broker fronted. The current process places the recovery in a post-mortem position. The current situation presents a grim picture for recovery and return of stolen or missing items.
Flea Markets and Pawnshops provide an easy outlet to distribute goods. Pawnshops are somewhat regulated and required to provide lists of received items as described above. Flea Markets are not regulated and particularly difficult to police for stolen goods, as are other unregulated outlets such as art shows, gun shows, outdoor sporting good shows, hobby shows, or other exhibitions. These unregulated sales outlets present opportunities for persons to distributed goods having unknown backgrounds.
There is currently no single worldwide place to advertise stolen goods/missing goods, fugitives, missing persons, and other types of found items. There are several companies that utilize public records to locate persons. When a person is trying to avoid being found, the use of public records often becomes futile.
Publications, including newspapers, periodicals, and magazines are limited to a printed media, whereby the media does not provide a continuing database. Publications are limited to providing the information for a limited time period. Newspaper classified sections include a lost and found section, but no stolen goods section. The consumer is required to phone or fax in an advertisement, which is placed in queue for printing and finally distributed at a later date. The newspaper advertisements are limited to text, whereby pictures would greatly enhance the recovery effort. Newspapers are also limited to the regions in which the newspaper is distributed. Printing and distribution of the newspapers is costly, utilizes natural or recycled resources, and energy.
Photographs and information related to missing persons are often distributed through milk cartons or prints. Photographs and information related to fugitives are generally printed and posted at the US post office. These are generally limited to geographic regions in which authorities feel these persons can be located.
For stolen goods, the police provide a list (an example is referred to as Pawn Track) of stolen goods primarily for identification of stolen goods for Pawnshops to compare goods against. The list is dispersed weekly to police departments and Pawnshops with less frequent updates.
A television show “America's Most Wanted” illustrates the advantages of taking police wanted lists public and using the public to track the wanted persons. The show presents individual cases of wanted persons re-enacting the crime and presenting the possible paths of the fugitives.
A television show “Unsolved Mysteries” illustrates the advantages of taking missing persons or other unsolved scenarios public and using the public to resolve the unsolved scenario.
Insurance companies or individuals generally provide a reward upon the recovery of the goods.
Recovery systems, such as LoJack™ are currently available, where the user would notify the proper agency to activate a homing device located within the object.
The Inventors are not aware of prior art systems that allow for the victim (individual, insurance company, or others) to promote the loss immediately and as expansively as possible, using existing media, preferably within one location or access point. None of the prior art systems support potential changes to the current processes whereby the present invention would provide a mechanism for a proactive approach to increasing the risk for return and limiting the distribution of stolen assets. None of the prior art systems provide for an inquiring user to access the database from virtually any location using many known methods to determine the background of an item. The same can be applied to missing persons and fugitives.
Further, none of the prior art systems allow one to remove unnecessary personal interface requirements to notify the insurance company, file a claim, provide a police report, and receive either the claim value, a temporary replacement, or a permanent replacement. It is desirable for the insurance company to replace the stolen or missing item at the lowest cost.
The inventor is aware of several patents that propose potential systems and techniques. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,299,116 to Owens, et al.; 5,424,944 to Kelly et al.; 5,748,083 to Rietkerk; 5,841,116 to Lewis; 5,878,416 to Harris et al.; 5,912,947 to LangenKamp et al.; and 5,955,952 to Bergman et al.
The '952 patent to Bergman et al. refers to a “method and system for locating a lost person or lost personal property” and mentions the “world wide web”, column 4, lines 52+. However, the patent systems is limited to only being able to show “the photograph (of a missing person) . . . on a world wide web page on the internet: and not to complete a business model for the recovery of stolen goods, missing persons or fugitives,: that overcomes all of the problems with the prior systems and techniques previously described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first objective of the present invention is to utilize the internet (or similar) as a portal for providing a data base for stolen items.
The second objective of the present invention is the ability for the lossee (or other interested party) to promote and publish the stolen item (loss) immediately.
The third objective of the present invention is to immediately disseminate information globally pertaining to lost goods.
The fourth objective of the present invention is to promote unsolved scenarios, such as hit and run s, thefts, homicides, and other suspicious events in which law enforcement have an interest.
The fifth objective of the present invention is to automatically notify an insurance company (or other party of interest) of a loss, whereby the insurance company could initiate claim proceedings.
The sixth objective of the present invention is for a web portal to provide e-commerce solutions to temporarily or permanently replace the subject items.
The seventh objective of the present invention is for a web portal to provide auctions, reverse auctions, and competitive shopping analysis for insurance companies to provide replacement items at the lowest cost. Since the claim can provide an adequate description of the subject item, the replacement process can be self-generating.
The eighth objective of the present invention is to automatically provide direct email to a claimant from either a web site providing a list of business alliances and pricing comparisons for replacement items, directly from a business alli
Frankel Fred
Frankel Henrietta
Hertz Allen David
Law Offices of Brian S. Steinberger , P.A.
Le Uyen
Metjahic Safet
Steinberger Brian S.
LandOfFree
Business model for recovery of missing goods, persons, or... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Business model for recovery of missing goods, persons, or..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Business model for recovery of missing goods, persons, or... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2888938