Alert Routing System for Emergency Notifications Across Connected Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users may not receive timely emergency notifications if they do not have their smartphone with them, especially in situations where they are in a different location within a structure.
Innovation Solution
A system that connects to any user device for messaging during emergency events, utilizing connected devices such as smart phones, tablets, refrigerators, thermostats, and cameras to output alerts through visual, audio, or vibration notifications, based on the user's location within a structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If emergency alerts are sent only to smartphones, then the notification system is simple and reliable, but users cannot receive alerts when their smartphone is not on their person
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables multiple device types (smartphones, tablets, smart home devices, computers, televisions) to function as alert notification devices. By making the notification system universal across different devices, it ensures users can receive alerts regardless of which device they are using or nearby, thus improving notification coverage while maintaining reliable alert delivery through established protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary alert notification service that acts as a mediator between the alert source and the user. This service receives alerts and distributes them to various devices the user is associated with, ensuring reliable delivery even when the primary smartphone is not available. The intermediary handles device availability checking and alert routing to appropriate devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system monitors multiple connected devices for alerts, then notification coverage is improved, but device complexity and system resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Connected devices perform self-registration and self-identification with the alert notification service. Devices automatically provide their capabilities and status information without requiring manual configuration or complex system management. This self-service approach reduces system complexity while maintaining multi-device notification coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having users associate their devices with their account in advance and by having devices pre-register their notification capabilities. When an alert needs to be sent, the system already has a prepared list of available devices, eliminating the need for complex real-time device discovery and reducing system complexity during alert distribution.
3Reliability
If the system checks device availability before sending alerts, then alert delivery reliability is improved, but response time may be delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having devices continuously report their availability status and by pre-checking device reachability before critical alerts. User profiles maintain updated lists of available devices, so when an alert occurs, the system can quickly determine which devices to use without performing complex real-time availability checks, thus reducing delay while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple availability checking methods into a unified approach. It combines device registration data, user profile information, and real-time status checks into a single alert routing process. This consolidation allows the system to make reliable device selection decisions faster by having all necessary information integrated and readily available.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique is directed to methods and systems for outputting alerts on user interfaces. In some implementations, an alert system can identify devices connected to the alert interface and determine the user interface capabilities (e.g., audio, visual, or vibration) of each device. Upon receiving an alert of an emergency event, the alert system can determine the location of the user within a structure and select a device(s) nearby the user to transmit or display the notification of the emergency event to the user. The selected device can identify the emergency event and output the alert based upon the visual audible, or vibration user interface capabilities of the selected device.