Adaptive Inter-ranging Network for First Responder Location Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In emergency situations like fires, existing location tracking technologies for first responders are inaccurate, unreliable, and fail without line of sight or pre-installed infrastructure, leading to potential injuries and deaths due to poor communication and lack of precise location data.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive inter-ranging network where node devices range to each other based on proximity and mobility state, allowing accurate location estimation without requiring line of sight or pre-installed infrastructure, and adapts by creating local groups when more nodes exceed available timeslots, using trilateration algorithms and confidence levels for location calculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional location tracking technologies are used for first responders, then infrastructure requirements are reduced, but location accuracy and reliability deteriorate without line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate node devices that act as mediators to relay ranging signals between first responder devices. These intermediate nodes enable location tracking in environments where direct line of sight is blocked, improving both reliability and accuracy by creating signal paths through multiple hops rather than requiring direct communication between all devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the location tracking system into multiple independent node devices, each capable of performing ranging operations and sharing location data. This segmentation allows the system to function without centralized infrastructure, with each node independently contributing to the overall location accuracy and reliability of the network
2Quantity of substance
If more node devices are added to the network, then location coverage is improved, but communication timeslot availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic timeslot allocation where the network automatically adjusts communication schedules based on the current number of active node devices. As devices are added or removed, the system dynamically reconfigures timeslots to maintain optimal communication efficiency, preventing timeslot exhaustion even as the network scales
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of timeslot structure from fixed to adaptive, allowing the network to modify timeslot duration, frequency, and assignment based on network density. This parameter adaptation enables the system to accommodate varying numbers of node devices without compromising communication availability or causing timeslot conflicts
Data Source
AI summary
An illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is a network including a first local group of first node devices, a second local group of second node devices, and a new node device. The new node device has a processor with programmed instructions to range to each of the first node devices, collect ranging data from each of the first node devices, calculate a plurality of distances based on the ranging data, and send the plurality of distances to each of the second node devices.