Dynamic Beacon Payload for Emergency Location Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency responders face challenges in accurately locating mobile devices during emergencies, especially when the devices are in transit, and distinguishing between multiple beacons from different devices in mass casualty events.
Innovation Solution
A computerized method that detects a request for emergency services, generates a beacon payload with an incident identifier and other data, enables beaconing to transmit this payload, and dynamically updates it with refreshed location and emergency type information, allowing responders to track the device's movement and adapt to changing emergency circumstances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beaconing is enabled to transmit location information, then responders can locate the mobile device, but multiple beacons from different devices cannot be distinguished in mass casualty events
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon payload is segmented into multiple distinct fields including incident identifier, device identifier, location information, and emergency type. This segmentation allows each component to serve a specific function, enabling responders to distinguish between multiple devices by comparing their unique identifiers while maintaining clear location tracking capabilities.
2Reliability
If static beacon payload is used, then implementation is simple, but location tracking during transit and changing emergency circumstances cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon payload is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The system continuously updates the beacon with refreshed location information and emergency type data, allowing the payload to adapt to changing conditions such as device movement during transit or evolving emergency circumstances, thereby maintaining reliable location tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preliminarily establishes the beacon payload structure with all necessary fields (incident identifier, device identifier, location, emergency type) before the emergency response begins. This preliminary setup ensures that the beacon is ready to transmit accurate information immediately and can be updated without requiring complex reconfiguration during the emergency.
3Loss of information
If detailed information is included in beacon payload, then emergency response accuracy is improved, but data transmission overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the most critical information fields into the beacon payload: incident identifier, device identifier, location information, and emergency type. By selecting only these essential elements, the system maintains complete and accurate emergency information for responders while keeping the data transmission overhead minimal and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic devices described herein are configured to use a beaconing capability to enable responders to locate a user of the electronic device. The beacon payload includes an incident identifier, among other data, that enables responders to identify the specific electronic device that was used to place the emergency call. The beacon payload is dynamically updated with refreshed data to enable responders to locate the user of the electronic device that may potentially be in transit from one location to another, and to adapt to changing circumstances associated with the emergency situation.