A network slicing system for emergencies

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for creating an emergency service network slice to enable a user (K) to utilize emergency services as quickly, efficiently and uninterruptedly as possible during an emergency.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] A NETWORK SLICING SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCIES

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a system for creating an emergency service network slice to enable a user to utilize emergency services as quickly, efficiently and uninterruptedly as possible during an emergency.

[0005] Background of the Invention

[0006] Network slicing has emerged as a new technology in 5G network architecture. Here, each network slice can be flexibly scaled in order to to meet different requirements of different services, industrial applications or users. In recent years, a significant number of studies have been conducted on network slicing technology. Besides, emergency network slicing methods -which are the subject of the present invention- are also encountered in the current literature.

[0007] The Chinese patent document no. CN111512650B, an application included in the state of the art, discloses a network slicing method for ensuring that emergency services can establish an uninterrupted communication with the user upon the mobile operator assigns an emergency network slice to the mobile operator when a transmits a message containing an emergency to the public land mobile network (PLMN). In the said Chinese document, the message sent by the user to the PLMN is expected to comprise some keywords to be associated with the emergency. The Chinese document does not include a description related to initiation of network slicing when a mobile user calls emergency service centers such as 112 / 911.

[0008] On the other hand, the publication included in the known state of the art and titled as “Kukkalli, (2020) "Evaluation of multi-operator dynamic 5G network slicing for vehicular emergency scenarios, IEEE 2020 IFIP Networking Conference (Networking)” discloses the creation of an emergency network slice in order to allocate the necessary resources from the place where the emergency occurs to the health institution where the ambulance will go for more effective use of emergency health services. In the said publication, the emergency network slice is initiated only for health services. On the other hand, in the said broadcast, the emergency network slice is established only between the place where the emergency occurs and the target emergency service center, and there is no action taken at the moment when the emergency service vehicle is on its way to the emergency area. In addition, the scope of the emergency network slice is limited to the emergency response team.

[0009] The United States patent document no. US11805399B2, another application included in the state of the art, discloses a system with a machine learning infrastructure configured to optimize the bandwidth of a public safety answering point when similar emergency calls are received. A computer-implemented method for optimizing bandwidth in a public safety answering point (PSAP) environment includes a retrieving content related to emergency incidents from a Social Media (SM) server, feeding the content to a Stream Processing Module having a Machine Learning engine. A similarity level is determined between the emergency call and any of the emergency incidents retrieved from the SM server. If the similarity level exceeds a predetermined threshold, then option for downgrading the emergency call to a call comprising only audio data can be provided. If this downgrade option is selected, the RTP stream of the emergency call can be converted into an audio call without any image. Embodiments of the method can associate portions of an examined emergency video call stream with a content (i.e. image, video) published on social media and with streams of active calls in the PSAP. Thereby, it is possible to optimize network resources and to save bandwidth for emergency calls that would otherwise not benefit from the emergency service.

[0010] Summary of the Invention An objective of the present invention is to realize a system for creating an emergency service network slice to enable the users to utilize emergency services as quickly, efficiently and uninterruptedly as possible during an emergency, when mobile users who are affected by or witness an emergency incident report the emergency incident by calling emergency service centers such as 112 / 911.

[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to realize a system whereby resource allocation that enable service requirements such as bandwidth, coverage area, low latency is provided for uninterrupted and effective use of applications such as voice calls, live video broadcasting and internet usage, by labeling all kinds of emergency service vehicles such as ambulances, fire brigades, police vehicles to be sent to the emergency zone from the moment they set off for the intervention zone to their destination points.

[0012] Another objective of the present invention is to realize a system wherein the region within the area of a circle having a certain radius centered on the location where the emergency occurred, is called the emergency region and it is included in the emergency network slice in order to provide uninterrupted communication to the mobile users who are continuously signaled in the region, by developing simple clustering algorithms for emergency network slices considering that the number of people affected by the emergency may be higher.

[0013] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0014] “A Network Slicing System for Emergencies” realized to fulfil the objectives of the present invention is shown in the figures attached, in which:

[0015] Figure l is a schematic view of the inventive system.

[0016] Figure 2 is a view of the block diagram of the cellular network in the inventive system. Figure 3 is a view of the block diagram of the emergency call module in the inventive system.

[0017] Figure 4 is a view of the block diagram of the emergency network slice in the inventive system.

[0018] The components illustrated in the figures are individually numbered, where the numbers refer to the following:

[0019] 1. System

[0020] 2. Cellular network

[0021] 21. Emergency call routing module

[0022] 22. Emergency information collection module

[0023] 23. Emergency network slice operation module

[0024] 3. Mapping platform

[0025] 4. Emergency call module

[0026] 41. Analysis module for emergency call

[0027] 42. Identification module for emergency zone

[0028] 43. Identification module for response teams

[0029] 44. Identification module for emergency leveling

[0030] 5. Emergency network slice module

[0031] 51. Geolocation module

[0032] 52. Identification module for resource requirement

[0033] 53. Network optimization module

[0034] 54. Resource allocation module

[0035] K: User

[0036] O: Emergency zone

[0037] A: Response vehicle

[0038] The inventive system (1) for creating an emergency service network slice to enable the users (K) to utilize emergency services as quickly, efficiently and uninterruptedly as possible during an emergency, when users (K) who are affected by or witness an emergency incident report the emergency incident by calling emergency service centers such as 112 / 911; comprises at least one cellular network (2) which is configured to respond to an emergency call from a person who is affected by or witness an emergency; at least one mapping platform (3) which is configured to provide location information based on an emergency call status information; at least one emergency call module (4) which is configured to be in communication with the the cellular network (2) and the mapping platform (3); to retrieve emergency call data about the number of people affected, the potential process, the available emergency service centers through the communication established with the cellular network (2); to retrieve the location information based on the emergency call status information through the communication established with the mapping platform (3); to analyze the information about the location, the number of people affected, the potential process, the available emergency service centers; to determine the region where the emergency occurred as an emergency region (E) by means of simple clustering algorithms; to decide on the required emergency response vehicle (R) and to direct it to the emergency zone (O) and to determine an emergency level by analyzing the level of the emergency and the potential situations that may develop; at least one emergency information collection module (22) which is configured to retrieve emergency information from the cellular network (2) such as emergency s the cene area, the related response vehicle (A), the target emergency center, and the emergency information via the identification module for emergency leveling (44) depending on the emergency level information; at least one emergency network slice operation module (23) which is configured to be in communication with the emergency information collection module (22); to retrieve information about the emergency situation such as the scene area, the related response vehicle (A), the target emergency center, the emergency information and to initiate the emergency network slice; at least one emergency network slice module (5) which is configured to be in communication with the cellular network (2); to keep the location information of the emergency response vehicle (A) in accordance with the emergency network start request received through this communication established; to examine the data related to emergency information such as the scene area, the related response vehicle (A), the target emergency center and the data related to the emergency information by using location information and to identify the resource needs for prioritizing the communication activities of the users (K) and the response vehicle (A) in the on-scene area and to process the resource requirement data with deep machine learning techniques in order to optimize the resource requirement; to allocate the determined resource after processing; and to provide feedback for optimization.

[0039] The cellular network (2) included in the inventive system (1) comprises at least one emergency call routing module (21) used to receive the call made by the person who is affected by or witness an emergency and to route the call to the analysis module for emergency call (41) in the emergency call module (4). The cellular network (2) further comprises at least one emergency information collection module (22) configured to gather emergency information such as information about the emergency such as the scene area, the response vehicle (A) involved, the target emergency center, etc. according to the emergency level information determined in the identification module for emergency leveling (44). The cellular network (2) comprises at least one emergency network slice processing module (23) configured to initiate or terminate the emergency network slice module (5) by using the data collected by the emergency information collection module (22).

[0040] The mapping platform (3) included in the inventive system (1) is configured to be in communication with the emergency call module (4) and to share the related location information about the emergency with the analysis module for emergency call (41) by using the emergency information.

[0041] The emergency call module (4) included in the inventive system (1) comprises at least one analysis for module emergency call (41) configured to analyze the information about the related location received from the mapping platform (3), the number of people affected, the potential process, the available emergency service centers received from the emergency call routing module (21) after the emergency call is received from the cellular network (1); and at least one identification module for emergency zone (42) configured to determine a geographical area covering the region where the emergency is experienced as an "emergency zone (E)" with simple clustering techniques after analysis. The emergency call module (4) also comprises at least one identification module for response teams (43) configured to determine the appropriate response type such as ambulance, police, fire brigade, etc. after the analysis performed with the analysis module for emergency call (41) and to direct the response vehicles (A) that are closest and prepared to the emergency zone (O). The emergency call module (4) comprises at least one identification module for emergency level (44) configured to determine the emergency level after the analysis performed with the analysis module for emergency call (41) by taking into account the current level of the emergency and the potential situations that may develop.

[0042] The emergency network slice module (5) included in the inventive system (1) is triggered by the emergency network slice operation module (23) and comprises at least one geolocation module (51) configured to keep the location information of the emergency response vehicle (A). The emergency network slice module (5) comprises at least one identification module for resource requirement (52) configured to examine the instantant location, the coverage, the resource information and the network load in order to determine the resource requirement for prioritizing the communication activities in the form of instantant video broadcast, speech and internet for the users (K) in the scene area and the response vehicle (A). The emergency network slice module (5) comprises at least one network optimization module (53) configured to optimize the resource requirement data by processing it with deep machine learning techniques for ultra-reliable and low latency provision of services such as video broadcasting, voice speech and internet connectivity for the immediate location of the emergency response vehicle (A), the incident scene area and the target emergency service center. The emergency network slice module (5) comprises at least one resource allocation module (54) configured to perform the relatd resource allocation at the related locations as a result of the optimization process. The resource allocation module (54) is configured to provide feedback to the identification module resource requirement (52) for dynamic operation of the emergency network slice. The emergency network slice module (5) is configured to terminate the emergency network slice via the emergency network slice operation module (23) upon the end of the emergency.

[0043] With the inventive system (1), users (K) who are affected by or witness an event caused by an emergency situation create a call on the cellular network (2) and the information about the location of the event, the status of those affected, the scale of the event, etc. related to the call is analyzed in the emergency call module (4). The emergency call module (4) ensures that the most appropriate emergency response vehicle (A) goes to the scene in accordance with the call and the label and location information of the emergency service vehicle directed to the scene is shared with the emergency network slice module (5) in order to initiate the emergency network slice. In addition, the emergency network slice module (5) is included in the emergency zone (O) considering that the users at the scene of the incident are victimized by this situation, and the emergency network slice optimizes the network resources appropriately in order to provide uninterrupted communication to the users there and to increase the communication quality. In the system (1), support can be received from a remote expert by means of applications such as augmented reality (AR) / virtual reality (VR) / extended reality (XR) by allocating resources to the location of the emergency response vehicle (A). At the same time, in the event that the emergency response vehicle (A) needs to head towards centers such as hospitals or police stations, the route is changed according to the location information of the nearest or most prepared health or security center and the emergency network slice module (5) ensures that the response vehicle (A) continues with the necessary network resources along the way until it reaches the new destination. Thereby, with the uninterrupted use of services such as live video broadcasting in the emergency response (A) vehicle, it becomes possible for emergency centers to direct the response teams in the service vehicle in critical situations.

[0044] The inventive system (1) submit information and approval comprising the principles of data privacy to the user and it operates within the scope of the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK). Within these basic concepts; it is possible to develop various embodiments of the inventive “Network Slicing System (1) for Emergencies”; the invention cannot be limited to examples disclosed herein and it is essentially according to claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system (1) for creating an emergency service network slice to enable the users (K) to utilize emergency services as quickly, efficiently and uninterruptedly as possible during an emergency, when users (K) who are affected by or witness an emergency incident report the emergency incident by calling emergency service centers such as 112 / 911; characterized by at least one cellular network (2) which is configured to respond to an emergency call from a person who is affected by or witness an emergency; at least one mapping platform (3) which is configured to provide location information based on an emergency call status information; at least one emergency call module (4) which is configured to be in communication with the the cellular network (2) and the mapping platform (3); to retrieve emergency call data about the number of people affected, the potential process, the available emergency service centers through the communication established with the cellular network (2); to retrieve the location information based on the emergency call status information through the communication established with the mapping platform (3); to analyze the information about the location, the number of people affected, the potential process, the available emergency service centers; to determine the region where the emergency occurred as an emergency region (E) by means of simple clustering algorithms; to decide on the required emergency response vehicle (R) and to direct it to the emergency zone (O) and to determine an emergency level by analyzing the level of the emergency and the potential situations that may develop; at least one emergency information collection module (22) which is configured to retrieve emergency information from the cellular network (2) such as emergency s the cene area, the related response vehicle (A), the target emergency center, and the emergency information via the identification module for emergency leveling (44) depending on the emergency level information;at least one emergency network slice operation module (23) which is configured to be in communication with the emergency information collection module (22); to retrieve information about the emergency situation such as the scene area, the related response vehicle (A), the target emergency center, the emergency information and to initiate the emergency network slice; at least one emergency network slice module (5) which is configured to be in communication with the cellular network (2); to keep the location information of the emergency response vehicle (A) in accordance with the emergency network start request received through this communication established; to examine the data related to emergency information such as the scene area, the related response vehicle (A), the target emergency center and the data related to the emergency information by using location information and to identify the resource needs for prioritizing the communication activities of the users (K) and the response vehicle (A) in the on-scene area and to process the resource requirement data with deep machine learning techniques in order to optimize the resource requirement; to allocate the determined resource after processing; and to provide feedback for optimization.

2. A system (1) according to Claim 1; characterized by the cellular network (2) which comprises at least one emergency call routing module (21) used to receive the call made by the person who is affected by or witness an emergency and to route the call to the analysis module for emergency call (41) in the emergency call module (4).

3. A system (1) according to Claim 1 or 2; characterized by the cellular network (2) which comprises at least one emergency information collection module (22) configured to gather emergency information such as information about the emergency such as the scene area, the response vehicle (A) involved, the targetemergency center, etc. according to the emergency level information determined in the identification module for emergency leveling (44).

4. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the cellular network (2) which comprises at least one emergency network slice processing module (23) configured to initiate or terminate the emergency network slice module (5) by using the data collected by the emergency information collection module (22).

5. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the mapping platform (3) which is configured to be in communication with the emergency call module (4) and to share the related location information about the emergency with the analysis module for emergency call (41) by using the emergency information.

6. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the emergency call module (4) which comprises at least one analysis for module emergency call (41) configured to analyze the information about the related location received from the mapping platform (3), the number of people affected, the potential process, the available emergency service centers received from the emergency call routing module (21) after the emergency call is received from the cellular network (1); and at least one identification module for emergency zone (42) configured to determine a geographical area covering the region where the emergency is experienced as an "emergency zone (E)" with simple clustering techniques after analysis.

7. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the emergency call module (4) which comprises at least one identification module for response teams (43) configured to determine the appropriate response type such as ambulance, police, fire brigade, etc. after the analysis performed with the analysismodule for emergency call (41) and to direct the response vehicles (A) that are closest and prepared to the emergency zone (O).

8. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the emergency call module (4) which comprises at least one identification module for emergency level (44) configured to determine the emergency level after the analysis performed with the analysis module for emergency call (41) by taking into account the current level of the emergency and the potential situations that may develop.

9. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the emergency network slice module (5) which is triggered by the emergency network slice operation module (23) and comprises at least one geolocation module (51) configured to keep the location information of the emergency response vehicle (A).

10. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the emergency network slice module (5) which comprises at least one identification module for resource requirement (52) configured to examine the instantant location, the coverage, the resource information and the network load in order to determine the resource requirement for prioritizing the communication activities in the form of instantant video broadcast, speech and internet for the users (K) in the scene area and the response vehicle (A).

11. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the emergency network slice module (5) which comprises at least one network optimization module (53) configured to optimize the resource requirement data by processing it with deep machine learning techniques for ultra-reliable and low latency provision of services such as video broadcasting, voice speech and internet connectivity for the immediate location of the emergency response vehicle (A), the incident scene area and the target emergency service center.

12. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the emergency network slice module (5) which comprises at least one resource allocation module (54) configured to perform the relatd resource allocation at the related locations as a result of the optimization process.

13. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the resource allocation module (54) which is configured to provide feedback to the identification module resource requirement (52) for dynamic operation of the emergency network slice.

14. A system (1) according to any of the preceding claims; characterized by the emergency network slice module (5) which is configured to terminate the emergency network slice via the emergency network slice operation module (23) upon the end of the emergency.

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