Audio-Based Danger Detection System for Incapacitated Users

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Solution Overview

Problem

In emergency situations, users may be incapacitated or unable to access their mobile devices to communicate effectively, rendering existing capabilities useless.

Innovation Solution

A system that analyzes ambient sound samples and contextual data to detect potential dangers, alerting users and notifying emergency contacts or services if no response is received within a predetermined time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually access mobile device capabilities to communicate in emergencies, then communication effectiveness is improved, but user accessibility deteriorates when users are incapacitated or unable to reach their device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency communication effectivenessVSAvoiduser accessibility to device

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects emergency situations through audio analysis and initiates alert notifications without requiring user intervention. The mobile device monitors ambient sounds, identifies distress signals, and autonomously contacts emergency services or predefined contacts, enabling the system to serve itself in detecting and responding to emergencies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Users pre-configure emergency contacts and notification preferences in advance through the application. When an emergency is detected, the system immediately executes the pre-planned alert sequence, eliminating the need for real-time decision-making or manual input during the critical emergency moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the system continuously monitors ambient sound for emergency detection, then emergency detection capability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency detection capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic audio sampling rather than continuous monitoring, analyzing ambient sound at predetermined time intervals. This approach maintains emergency detection capability while significantly reducing processor activity and energy consumption compared to continuous real-time audio analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses brief, targeted audio snapshots at specific monitoring intervals rather than sustained high-power audio processing. Each audio sample is quickly analyzed for distress signals, then discarded, allowing the system to maintain detection readiness with minimal cumulative energy expenditure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS10540883B1Methods and systems for audio-based danger detection and alert

Publication Date: 2020.01.21 LIFE360

AI summary

Methods and systems for emergency detection and alert are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ambient sound sample and contextual data are received over a network from a communication device. The ambient sound sample and the contextual data are analyzed by comparing the ambient sound sample and the contextual data with historical audio and context profiles. Whether a potential danger exists is determined based on the comparison. In response to determining that the potential danger exists, a user of the communication device is alerted of the potential danger and a response is requested from the user.