Breathing Apparatus Network Failover for Continuous Incident Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication techniques in emergency response incidents face challenges with maintaining connectivity and managing multiple pieces of equipment over large areas, leading to increased complexity and equipment failure, especially in scenarios with obstacles and interference.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a decentralized network of network nodes and breathing apparatuses, where each apparatus connects to a single node, allowing for robust communication and automatic reselection of a master node if the current one becomes inactive, ensuring continuous connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple network nodes and breathing apparatuses are deployed over large areas to expand communication coverage, then the effective range is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into multiple independent nodes (master nodes and support nodes) that can operate autonomously. Each node manages its own breathing apparatuses and can independently handle communication tasks, dividing the overall system complexity into manageable segments distributed across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The network topology is made dynamic through automatic master node selection and support node promotion mechanisms. When a master node becomes unavailable, the system dynamically reconfigures by selecting a new master node from the support nodes, allowing the network to adapt to changing conditions without manual intervention.
2Reliability
If traditional single-master node architecture is used to simplify network management, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases when the master node fails
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining a list of candidate support nodes that are pre-qualified to become master nodes. When the current master node fails, the selection of a new master node can be performed quickly by evaluating the pre-identified candidates, rather than searching for new nodes from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The network implements self-service through automatic master node selection and failover mechanisms. When a master node becomes unavailable, the system automatically selects a new master node from the support nodes without requiring manual intervention, ensuring continuous operation and improving reliability.
3Reliability
If breathing apparatuses are equipped with advanced communication capabilities to improve connectivity, then the reliability is improved, but the loss of information increases due to potential equipment failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different network nodes to have different roles and capabilities. Master nodes and support nodes can be configured with appropriate communication capabilities based on their specific functions and locations, optimizing the balance between reliability and failure risk for each node.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a system for handling communications in a network. The system comprises a plurality of network nodes and a plurality of breathing apparatus of the network. Each network node is configured as an access point for the network. Each breathing apparatus is configured to establish a connection to a single corresponding network node. The plurality of network nodes comprises a master node and one or more support nodes. The master node is configured to establish a connection to each support node. Each support node is configured to initiate transmission of first information indicative of one or more corresponding breathing apparatus towards the master node. The system is configured to, if a first master node enters an inactive state, select, based on second information indicative of the one or more support nodes, a first support node to be configured as a second master node.