An information system, method, and computer program product is provided
for the centralized warning of existing or developing significant events
and/or threats 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 affected 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, and listens for warning/notification event messages transmitted
by a network bridge or situational awareness workstation and threat
warning gateway (central processing means). When an event/threat warning
is received by the user warning and positioning device, the pager-like
user warning and positioning device 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.