Emergency Call Audio Fallback Messaging Under Poor Network Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency call systems often experience unsatisfactory call quality due to high packet loss, leading to difficulties in effective communication between the person in distress and the monitoring station, such as an Alarm Receiving Center.
Innovation Solution
The system switches between real-time voice calls and messaging processes based on call quality, using different transmission protocols and channels to ensure reliable communication, with real-time voice calls transitioning to messaging when quality is insufficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless communication systems use existing infrastructure and protocols for emergency communications, then deployment speed and accessibility are improved, but network overload and service degradation occur during disasters
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments communication traffic into different priority levels (emergency vs. non-emergency) and routes them through different network paths. Emergency messages are prioritized and guaranteed delivery, while non-emergency traffic is handled by standard protocols, preventing network overload during disasters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary emergency communication system that bridges satellite and terrestrial networks. This intermediary layer enables emergency communications to switch between satellite and terrestrial infrastructure, ensuring continuous service when one network becomes overloaded or unavailable.
2Reliability
If satellite communication is used for emergency communications, then network coverage and reliability are improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system design enables communication devices to operate universally across multiple network types (satellite and terrestrial) using standardized protocols. This multi-functionality allows the same device to switch between satellite and terrestrial networks without requiring separate specialized equipment for each network type.
Solution Approach 2:
The emergency communication system automatically selects and switches between satellite and terrestrial networks based on network conditions and message priority, without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of multi-network operations through automated protocol selection and routing.
3Ease of operation
If standard communication protocols are used during emergencies, then interoperability and ease of operation are improved, but message prioritization and delivery guarantee are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality levels to different messages based on their priority. Emergency messages receive enhanced handling with guaranteed delivery, acknowledgment, and retransmission, while non-emergency messages use standard best-effort delivery. This local quality differentiation ensures critical information is preserved while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system monitors message delivery status and network conditions, then automatically adjusts routing and transmission parameters. This feedback loop ensures high-priority emergency messages receive the necessary delivery guarantees while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Data Source
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AI summary
A apparatus comprises at least one processor configured to: instruct transmission of end- user audio data to a remote system over a voice call, wherein the end-user audio data represents a sensed audio signal to convey speech of an end user and is transmitted in real time with respect to sensing of the audio signal; and in response to a determination that, during the voice call, the voice call is of insufficient quality, perform a messaging process, the messaging process comprising: presenting an audio output to the end user; capturing an audio response of the end user; and instructing transmission of a message to the remote system, wherein the message comprises a representation of the captured audio response, and wherein the transmission of the message is not constrained to be transmitted in real time with respect to sensing of said captured audio response.