Crowd-Sourced Emergency Alert via Inaudible Sound Wave Mesh
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Solution Overview
Problem
In situations where cellular coverage is unavailable, individuals in need of immediate assistance cannot effectively communicate for help using traditional radio-based cellular communication methods.
Innovation Solution
A method and electronic device that generate a crowd-sourced alert using inaudible pure sine wave sound waves, which can travel through obstacles and propagate to nearby devices, forming a mesh of alerted devices, even without cellular connectivity, and can transmit SMS messages when connectivity is available, along with an audible alert and an all-clear mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional radio-based cellular communication is used for emergency alerts, then cellular coverage is required, but coverage availability deteriorates in areas without cellular networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic radio-based cellular communication system with an acoustic sound wave-based system. The emergency alert device emits sound waves that can propagate through air and travel through obstacles like walls, enabling communication without requiring cellular network infrastructure. This substitution allows the system to function reliably in areas without cellular coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sound waves as an intermediary medium for emergency alert communication. Instead of directly using cellular radio waves, the system uses sound waves as a mediator that can carry alert information through physical obstacles and propagate over long distances, thereby adapting to environments without cellular infrastructure.
2Length of stationary object
If sound wave frequency is increased to improve detection range, then detection distance improves, but sound wave attenuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modulating the frequency and amplitude of sound waves dynamically. The system uses lower frequencies that can penetrate obstacles better while maintaining sufficient detection range, and adjusts amplitude levels to optimize both transmission distance and energy efficiency, balancing the trade-off between detection range and attenuation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective communication of emergency alerts over long distances without relying on cellular networks, ensuring help can be summoned even in areas with no coverage, and allows for the cancellation of alerts through a similar sound-based mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the device emits an emergency sound wave having one or more particular characteristics (e.g., frequency, intensity, standard deviation, and amplitude). According to an embodiment, the emergency sound wave is a pure sine wave or 'true' sine wave, which may allow it to travel more effectively through obstacles (e.g., walls).
Data Source
AI summary
During an emergency, a user initiates an emergency trigger, which puts an electronic device into an emergency mode. The device then emits an emergency sound wave having one or more particular characteristics. In one embodiment, the emergency sound wave is inaudible. The device may then emit an audible alert. Nearby devices that detect the emergency sound wave may then, once they validate the emergency sound wave emit their own emergency sound waves, and emit their own audible alerts. This process allows the original alert to be propagated to many devices in the vicinity creating, in effect, a mesh of alerted devices.