Digital Sign Network for Targeted Emergency Message Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current emergency notification systems, such as the EAS and EBS, are limited in their ability to target specific areas, convey detailed information, and reach individuals in the vicinity of an emergency, especially with the rise of non-participating broadcast stations and the decline in traditional radio listening.
Innovation Solution
A digital sign network system with a video camera connected to a central computer, allowing authorized users to upload emergency messages, control image display, and access video streams across disparate manufacturers' signs, enabling targeted and detailed emergency messaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional broadcast stations (EAS/EBS) are used for emergency notifications, then wide area coverage is achieved, but the ability to target specific areas and convey detailed information is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the notification delivery by geographic location, dividing the broadcast area into specific zones with digital signs. Each digital sign receives and displays only the emergency notifications relevant to its specific geographic area, enabling precise area targeting while maintaining comprehensive information delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
A central computer system acts as an intermediary between emergency notification sources and digital signs. This intermediary receives emergency notifications, processes them to determine relevant geographic areas, and selectively transmits notifications to appropriate digital signs, thereby enabling detailed information conveyance with precise area targeting.
2Productivity
If manual intervention is required from sign operators to display emergency messages, then operator control is maintained, but response time and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The digital sign system performs self-service by automatically receiving emergency notifications from the central computer and displaying them without requiring manual intervention from operators. The system autonomously processes incoming notifications and updates displays in real-time, significantly improving response speed and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The central computer system is pre-configured with geographic area data and digital sign locations. When an emergency notification is received, the system automatically determines relevant areas and transmits notifications to appropriate digital signs without waiting for operator intervention, enabling immediate automated response.
3Adaptability or versatility
If digital signs from disparate manufacturers are integrated into a unified network, then system versatility and coverage are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central computer system implements a universal communication interface that can interact with digital signs from multiple manufacturers through standardized protocols. This universal interface layer handles manufacturer-specific variations, allowing the system to integrate diverse digital signs without increasing operational complexity for end users.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed subject matter provides a computing system configured to present a map-centric interface to a user, the map-centric interface usable by the user to control selected ones of a plurality of digital signs. The computing system is further configured to receive via a network interface travel data indicative of availability of travel resources, data corresponding to emergency events, and instructions from a third-party entity regarding the emergency events. The computing system is further configured to connect to a particular digital sign of the selected ones and display information corresponding to the received travel data associated with a geographic region in which the digital sign is located. In addition, the computing system is configured to display on one or more of the plurality of digital signs emergency event messages based on the data corresponding to emergency events.