Airplane-Mode Emergency Access via Secondary Channel Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices in airplane-mode cannot be reached for emergency or urgent communications without disabling the mode, posing a challenge for users who need to contact someone urgently.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses Bluetooth communication to transmit a specific authentication key to a mobile device in airplane-mode, allowing it to deactivate the airplane-mode and activate the primary communication channel, enabling emergency notifications through customizable actions such as ringing, lighting, or pop-up notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If airplane-mode is activated to prevent unnecessary calls, then privacy and safety are improved, but accessibility for emergency communications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary communication channel (SMS) as an intermediary that can penetrate the airplane-mode barrier. This mediator allows emergency contacts to reach the user without requiring the primary communication channel (voice calls) to be active, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining airplane-mode protection and enabling emergency accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary authentication and channel switching actions before the emergency communication is needed. By pre-configuring the secondary channel and authentication mechanisms, the system ensures that when an emergency arises, the user can be reached immediately without disabling airplane-mode, thus preparing the system in advance to handle both privacy protection and emergency access requirements
2Ease of operation
If airplane-mode is disabled to enable emergency calls, then emergency accessibility is improved, but the purpose of airplane-mode for safety reasons is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication channels into primary (voice calls requiring network connection) and secondary (SMS working in airplane-mode). This segmentation allows the system to maintain airplane-mode for safety reasons while still providing emergency accessibility through the segmented secondary channel, thus resolving the contradiction without compromising airplane-mode functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the communication capability through the secondary SMS channel that functions independently of the primary voice call channel. This copied communication path allows emergency messages to be transmitted while the primary channel remains blocked by airplane-mode, thus maintaining airplane-mode while enabling emergency access
3Ease of operation
If a secondary communication channel is used to reach the device, then emergency accessibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where the mobile device automatically detects when it is in airplane-mode and autonomously switches to the secondary SMS channel for incoming emergency communications. This self-service approach minimizes the need for complex user management of multiple channels, as the system handles the complexity automatically based on its state, thus improving emergency accessibility without significantly increasing user-facing system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling airplane mode of a user device is configured to transmit a connection request to a telecommunication network for connecting with a target user device over a first communication channel. Upon receiving a call failure response from the telecommunication network the system is configured to transmitting a second communication request to the target user device through a second communication channel, wherein the second communication request comprises a target authentication key. The target user device is configured for generating an authentication response upon authentication of the second communication request based on the target authentication key. Further, the system is configured to transmit an activation signal to the target user device through the secondary communication channel for deactivating the airplane-mode and activate the first communication channel upon receipt of the activation signal.