Dynamic Bandwidth Reservation for Emergency Communications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for reserving bandwidth for emergency services during emergency events either result in bandwidth wastage or significant reservation delays, impacting the call completion rates for first responders and commercial users.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that dynamically reserve resources based on emergency call parameters, determining a geographical range to allocate bandwidth exclusively for emergency personnel, ensuring high call completion rates while minimizing bandwidth wastage and reducing reservation delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bandwidth is reserved for first responders at all times, then call completion rate for first responders is improved, but bandwidth wastage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall completion rateVSAvoidbandwidth wastage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth reservation where the system transitions between normal operation mode and emergency mode based on detected emergency conditions. During normal operation, no bandwidth is reserved (minimizing wastage), but when an emergency is detected, the system dynamically reserves bandwidth for first responders (improving call completion rate). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the reservation state conditional rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the bandwidth allocation parameter based on the emergency state. In normal conditions, the reserved bandwidth parameter is set to zero or minimum, but upon detecting an emergency event, the parameter is changed to allocate sufficient bandwidth to ensure first responder communications. This parameter change approach allows the system to optimize between bandwidth utilization and reliability based on actual needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If manual detection and reservation of bandwidth is implemented, then bandwidth allocation can be controlled, but reservation delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth allocation controlVSAvoidreservation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service through automatic emergency detection mechanisms that monitor network conditions and autonomously trigger bandwidth reservation when emergencies are detected. This eliminates the need for manual operator intervention, thereby reducing reservation delay while maintaining controlled bandwidth allocation. The system serves itself by automatically transitioning to emergency mode and allocating resources without human input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors network parameters and emergency indicators, and based on this feedback, automatically adjusts bandwidth allocation. When the feedback indicates an emergency condition (such as increased call volume from first responders), the system responds by activating bandwidth reservation. This closed-loop feedback control reduces delay compared to manual processes while maintaining allocation control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If whole communication channels are dedicated to emergency personnel, then call completion rate is improved, but bandwidth availability for commercial users decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall completion rateVSAvoidbandwidth availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bandwidth allocation into different modes: during normal operation, full bandwidth is available to commercial users, but during emergency events, a portion is segmented and reserved for first responders. This segmentation allows the system to provide dedicated channels when needed while maintaining full availability during non-emergency periods, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability for emergency personnel and adaptability for commercial use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic assessment of emergency conditions and adjusts bandwidth allocation accordingly. Rather than permanently dedicating channels, the system periodically evaluates whether emergency conditions exist and activates bandwidth reservation only during those periods. This periodic action ensures that bandwidth is reserved for first responders when needed (improving call completion) while remaining available for commercial users during normal periods (maintaining adaptability).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2474176B1Method and apparatus for reserving resources for emergency services in a wireless communication system

Publication Date: 2016.04.20 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC

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AI summary

A method and apparatus for determining a scope of priority service in a communication system (100) in an emergency event is described. The method includes: at a network device (186) in the communication system: receiving (504) at least one emergency call; determining (508) at least one parameter associated with the at least one emergency call; determining (506, 516, 518) a scope of a priority service in the communication system based on the determined at least one parameter; and reserving (512, 520, 522) resources in the communication system based on the determined scope of priority service.