Auto-Discovery Alert Broadcasting via Network Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems fail to efficiently broadcast alerts to diverse communication devices in emergency situations, as they are often limited to fixed devices and do not account for the variety of devices people use, leading to potential recipients remaining unaware of dangers due to unassociated devices not being preconfigured to receive alerts.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that employs an agent framework for prioritized alert message broadcasting, utilizing databases and communication nodes to identify and communicate with a plurality of devices, including mobile and stationary ones, through various communication means, and auto-discovery of target locations and devices to ensure maximum coverage, even for unassociated devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fixed communication devices are used for alert broadcasting, then the system complexity is reduced, but the coverage and reliability of alert delivery deteriorate because people use diverse mobile devices that are not preconfigured to receive alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces network gateways as intermediary components that bridge the alert broadcasting system and diverse communications devices. These gateways intercept network traffic, identify target devices, and deliver alerts without requiring direct integration with each device type, thus maintaining reliability while limiting system complexity growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a universal alert delivery mechanism that can communicate with multiple types of devices (mobile phones, tablets, computers, IoT devices) through a common gateway interface. This multi-functional approach allows single alert messages to reach diverse devices without creating separate specialized systems for each device type.
2Quantity of substance
If the system attempts to identify and broadcast to all potential recipients in a physical area, then the coverage is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring target devices increases due to transient people and unassociated devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring network gateways in target areas before emergencies occur. These gateways continuously monitor network traffic and maintain ready-to-send alert queues, so when an emergency arises, alerts can be immediately broadcast to all detected devices without delay for device identification or system configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway system enables unassociated devices to receive alerts through self-service mechanisms where devices automatically connect to available network services, receive alert messages through standard protocols, and display notifications without requiring pre-configuration or manual setup by users.
3Quantity of substance
If unassociated communications devices are targeted for alert delivery, then the coverage is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because these devices are not preconfigured to receive and display alert messages
Solution Approach 1:
Network gateways serve as mediators that translate alert messages into device-appropriate formats and delivery methods. The gateway handles the complexity of communicating with unassociated devices by intercepting network traffic, identifying device types, and automatically delivering alerts through appropriate channels without requiring manual configuration on each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes message parameters dynamically based on device characteristics. Alerts are transmitted with modified parameters such as message format, delivery protocol, and display instructions that are automatically adjusted to match the capabilities of the target device, whether it's a mobile phone, tablet, or computer.
4Adaptability or versatility
If diverse communication means are utilized for alert broadcasting, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need to support multiple communication protocols and device types
Solution Approach 1:
Network gateways act as intermediary layers that handle protocol translation and device-specific adaptations. Rather than the core alert system directly supporting multiple communication protocols and device types, the gateway intercepts standard alert messages and adapts them for delivery to diverse devices, thus providing adaptability while containing system complexity in the gateway layer.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems for communicating messages to target communications devices in a target physical location are disclosed. Network sources are queried for logical locations accessible to the network source. A specification of a physical location associated with each logical location is received. Each logical location specification is stored in a data store in association with the associated physical location specification. A specification of the target physical location is received. Those logical location specifications associated with the target physical location are retrieved from the data store, thereby identifying target logical locations. For each target logical location, at least one of the network sources accessible to that logical location is queried for specifications of communications devices accessible to that logical location, thereby identifying the communications devices in the target physical location. The message is communicated to the target communications devices in the target physical location via at least one of the target logical locations.