Dynamic Beacon Emergency Information System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional emergency notification systems in structures like commercial buildings are inadequate as they rely on static signs, which may not effectively communicate the presence and status of egress paths, especially during emergencies, and do not provide real-time updates on safe routes, leading to potential harm for occupants.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a beacon that transmits emergency information to communications devices associated with individuals, including updates on the emergency status and recommended actions, which can query an emergency server for detailed information, ensuring occupants are guided to safe egress paths in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static signs are used to indicate egress paths, then the system is simple and easy to implement, but the information cannot be updated in real-time to reflect changing emergency conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static egress signs into dynamic beacon systems that can change their output information in real-time. The beacons receive updated emergency status information and recommended actions from a server, allowing them to dynamically adapt to changing emergency conditions such as fire location, smoke density, and egress path availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the beacon system and the emergency management infrastructure. The server processes emergency data from various sensors and sources, generates updated emergency information, and distributes it to beacons throughout the structure, enabling real-time information updates without requiring complex direct connections at each beacon location.
2Loss of information
If detailed emergency information is provided to all occupants, then the information is comprehensive and useful, but the communication load and system resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements location-specific emergency information delivery where beacons transmit tailored emergency status information and recommended actions based on the occupant's specific location within the structure. Each beacon receives and transmits only the relevant subset of emergency information appropriate for its local area, reducing unnecessary communication overhead while maintaining information completeness for each occupant.
3Reliability
If real-time emergency updates are transmitted to all devices, then occupants receive current safety information, but the network bandwidth and system processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the emergency communication system into segmented beacon units distributed throughout the structure, each independently receiving and transmitting emergency information. This segmentation allows the system to handle real-time updates in a distributed manner rather than requiring a centralized high-bandwidth communication channel to every device simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods include communicating emergency information relative to a structure and an individual associated with the structure. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a beacon that transmits emergency information to a communications device associated with the individual. The emergency information includes emergency status information that updates the individual as to a status of an emergency that the structure is enduring and/or emergency action information that provides recommended actions for the individual to execute to avoid harm caused by the emergency. A controller updates the emergency information that is transmitted by the beacon based on changes in the status information due to changes in the status of the emergency that the structure is enduring and/or changes in the emergency action information due to changes in the recommended actions that the individual is to execute based on changes in the status information of the emergency.