Distributed Emergency Alert System with Location-Based Responder Dispatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional emergency reporting systems are unreliable and inefficient, particularly in scenarios where cellular communication is unavailable or dangerous, as they require verbal communication with operators, which can reveal the caller's location and delay response due to geographical uncertainty.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based emergency communication system with distributed servers that use multiple communication networks to receive alert signals, determine user location, identify emergency types, and dispatch appropriate responders, while ensuring secure data transmission and providing users with necessary self-help information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional 9-1-1 telephone system is used, then verbal communication with operator is enabled, but caller's location may be revealed and response time delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical voice communication system with an electronic alert signal transmission system. Users send automated alert signals containing location data through communication networks, eliminating the need for verbal communication and manual location description, thus reducing response time while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically determining and transmitting the caller's location with the alert signal before any communication occurs. This pre-prepared location information eliminates the time delay of manual location description and ensures accurate responder dispatch.
2Ease of operation
If cellular communication is used during active shooter scenario, then help can be requested, but caller's location is revealed to shooter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that receives alert signals through multiple communication networks (including non-cellular options like satellite or radio networks) and relays location information to responders without requiring direct cellular communication from the caller. This intermediary layer protects the caller's location from being exposed to the shooter while still enabling emergency response.
3Loss of information
If caller must describe location verbally, then communication is possible, but geographical precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual verbal location description with automated electronic location determination using GPS or other positioning systems. The system automatically extracts precise coordinates from the alert signal, eliminating human error in location description while requiring minimal effort from the user.
4Reliability
If distributed server system is implemented, then data security and reliability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the emergency communication system into multiple distributed servers that independently process alert signals and coordinate through standardized protocols. Each server handles specific functions (signal reception, location determination, responder dispatch), reducing the complexity burden on any single component while improving overall system reliability through redundancy.
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency communication system comprises at least two distributed servers. Each of the servers is an independently functioning device configured to operate cooperatively with another server, store personal data of users, duplicate data, and so forth. The servers are connected to a dispatch center, user devices of users, and personal devices of responders through two or more communications networks. The servers are further configured to implement a method including the steps of: receiving an alert signal initiated by a user during an emergency, determining a geographical location of the user based on the alert signal, identifying an emergency type associated with the user based on the alert signal, selecting at least one responder to address the emergency based at least on the emergency type and the geographical location of the user, and sending an emergency signal, including the geographical location of the user, to the at least one responder.