Abandoned Emergency Call Alerting Without Exposing the Caller

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Emergency call centers struggle to distinguish between real emergencies and accidental calls, leading to potential dangers for callers who may be in distress, as dispatchers may expose them by calling back or ignore calls that could indicate severe situations.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that analyze signal data from abandoned calls to determine if the caller is in danger, using position data and proximity to other devices to send silent or audible alerts without revealing the caller's location, ensuring assistance is sent safely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dispatchers call back abandoned calls to verify the situation, then they can distinguish between real emergencies and false alarms, but they may expose the caller in greater danger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of emergency verificationVSAvoidexposure of caller to danger
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses automated analysis of signal data, device movement patterns, and environmental information as an intermediary to verify emergency situations without requiring direct dispatcher-caller communication. This mediator layer filters and analyzes data to determine whether a callback is safe, thus resolving the contradiction between verification accuracy and caller safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The abandoned call device itself provides verification data through its sensors (accelerometer, pressure sensor, GPS) and communication capabilities. The device's movement patterns, altitude changes, and proximity to other devices serve as self-generated evidence of the emergency situation, eliminating the need for dispatcher intervention that could expose the caller

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If dispatchers ignore abandoned calls to avoid exposing callers, then caller safety is protected, but real emergencies may be missed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of caller from exposureVSAvoiddetection of real emergencies
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical process of dispatcher review and callback is replaced with an automated electronic system that continuously monitors signal data, device movement, and environmental information. This electronic substitution enables constant surveillance of abandoned calls without human intervention, maintaining caller protection while ensuring real emergencies are detected through automated analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If the system collects data from the abandoned call device and nearby devices, then it can analyze whether the victim is hiding or in danger, but it increases the complexity of the system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about victim situationVSAvoidsystem complexity for data collection and analysis
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system leverages existing multi-functional smartphone sensors (accelerometer, pressure sensor, GPS, microphone) that already serve multiple purposes. These universal components provide emergency verification data without requiring dedicated emergency equipment, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive information collection capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges data from multiple sources (abandoned call device sensors, nearby device signals, environmental information) into a unified analysis framework. By combining these diverse data streams through a centralized evaluation process, the system achieves comprehensive situational awareness without the complexity of separate analysis systems for each data type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4391510B1A method and a system for silent and non-exposing alerting of previously abandoned calls
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 ATOS PUBLIC SAFETY LLC
  • EP4391510B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4391510B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and a system for silent and non-exposing alerting of previously abandoned calls. The method and the system handle callbacks in in emergency systems such as Next Generation NG9-1-1 or NG1-1-2 systems with the main focus to avoid exposing people in trouble to a dangerous situation. When abandoned call is detected, verify moving of the calling device and mark as potential victim if not moving. Detect difference in altitude within a time interval of the device and if not large identify other devices in proximity. Send an alert to the proximate devices if it is moving or far enough else send silent alert to the abandoned call device.