An information system, method, and computer program product is provided
for the semi-distributed warning of existing or developing significant
events and/or threats to all network bridges in the system, and then to
affected users carrying a user warning and positioning device, while
reporting the location of all user's carrying the user warning and
positioning devices of the system to existing command and control
systems. The present invention's future event warning capabilities permit
those same users to be warned of impending events in enough time for the
users to take positive actions in response to these events and/or address
those events. The system of the present invention includes a pager-like
user warning and positioning device, worn by or carried by the individual
user, or mounted in a vehicle or vessel, having a geographical
positioning means therein, which periodically transmits the geographical
location of the individual user, vehicle or vessel to local network
bridges, and listens for warning/notification event messages transmitted
by the local network bridge. When an event/threat warning is received by
an affected user warning and positioning device, the pager-like user
warning and positioning alerts the user via indicia relative to the
event/situation, including audible spoken warnings and instructions on
how to react, and may retransmit the event/threat warning to other user
warning and positioning devices in the network, provided the threat has
not occurred and the event/threat warning has not been previously
relayed.