Emergency Alert App with Countdown and Fallback Dialing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for contacting emergency services on mobile devices are cumbersome and impractical in emergency situations, requiring multiple steps and potentially failing to provide accurate location information.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a server and client computing devices connected via communication networks, with a software application that allows users to send location information and emergency alerts with minimal effort, using geo-location and data networks, and includes a countdown feature for delayed alerts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional wire-based voice communications are used for emergency alerts, then the system is simple and reliable, but it does not take advantage of enhanced capabilities of modern wireless communications devices and requires multiple time-consuming steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency alert transmission speedVSAvoidnumber of steps required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically retrieves location information from the geo-location network and composes emergency alerts without requiring manual input from the user. The client device autonomously performs these tasks, eliminating the need for users to manually provide location data or navigate complex communication steps during emergencies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures emergency alert parameters and maintains ready-to-transmit alert templates. When activation occurs, the system has already prepared the necessary communication infrastructure and location data retrieval mechanisms, allowing for immediate transmission without requiring users to perform preliminary setup or configuration steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If users manually provide location information to emergency responders, then the system can adapt to different communication scenarios, but users may not be able to fully or adequately communicate location information in emergency situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser effort requiredVSAvoidlocation information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically retrieves and transmits accurate location information from the geo-location network without requiring user input. This eliminates the dependency on user ability to communicate location data while ensuring precise location information is always provided to emergency responders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual location communication with automated electronic location retrieval from the geo-location network. This substitution eliminates human error in location communication while maintaining or improving location accuracy through electronic positioning systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If multiple careful and time-consuming steps are required for emergency contact, then the system can ensure proper protocol is followed, but performing these steps may not be practical in actual emergency situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency response reliabilityVSAvoidtime required for emergency contact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes communication protocols and maintains ready-to-transmit alert infrastructure. When activation occurs, the system has already prepared the necessary communication pathways and location retrieval mechanisms, allowing for immediate transmission without requiring users to perform preliminary setup or configuration steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system eliminates unnecessary intermediate steps by directly transmitting emergency alerts from the client device to the server through the communications network. The automated process skips traditional manual communication steps, rapidly transmitting location data and alert information without requiring user intervention at each stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS9294610B2Emergency alert system and program for portable devices

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 GECOM SPA

AI summary

A system and software application that communicates with a central service for alerting a security service that help is needed, wherein an application running on a smart phone causes identity information, location information, and an emergency alert to be transmitted to an emergency response facility either by a single button press or a delayed count-down, or else, in the even that a data network is unavailable, presents an interface to directly dial an emergency response service with a single button press.