Emergency Override for Third-Party Informational Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fire and emergency communication systems often require expensive installations of dedicated displays, which can be redundant and unnecessary, as existing informational displays in buildings like office buildings, apartment complexes, and educational campuses can be repurposed for emergency messaging.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that incorporates an emergency detection module coupled with a display override module, allowing the system to override existing third-party displays with emergency messages via a switch box or RSS feed when an emergency is detected, utilizing existing display infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated displays are installed for emergency communication systems, then emergency communication reliability is improved, but system cost and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables existing third-party informational displays to serve dual purposes: displaying regular informational content during normal operations and displaying emergency messages during emergencies. The system achieves this by implementing an override mechanism that allows emergency communication signals to temporarily take control of the display when needed, eliminating the need for separate dedicated emergency displays and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary override module that mediates between the emergency communication system and the third-party display driver. This intermediary component receives emergency messages and inserts them into the display stream, allowing emergency communication to be integrated with existing displays without direct complex integration, thus simplifying the overall system architecture
2Reliability
If dedicated displays are installed for emergency communication systems, then emergency message display capability is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows existing third-party displays to be repurposed for emergency communication, eliminating the need to purchase and install separate dedicated emergency displays. The override module enables these multi-functional displays to reliably show emergency messages while maintaining their primary informational function, significantly reducing system cost
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing display infrastructure that is already installed and operational in the building. By utilizing these existing resources for emergency communication purposes through the override mechanism, the system avoids the cost of manufacturing and installing new dedicated displays
3Ease of manufacture
If existing third-party displays are used for emergency messaging, then system cost is reduced, but control over display content may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The override module acts as an intermediary that maintains control over display content by intercepting and managing the display stream. It can insert, override, or prioritize emergency messages within the existing third-party display framework, ensuring that emergency communication control is preserved while still utilizing the cost-effective existing display infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts display content control based on emergency status. During normal operations, the third-party display driver maintains full control. When an emergency is detected, the override module dynamically takes control to display emergency messages, then returns control to the third-party driver afterward, maintaining flexibility and control at different operational states
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments are generally directed to a system and method for providing emergency override of informational displays in an emergency notification system. An embodiment may include an emergency detection module coupled to a display override module. The display override module may be coupled to a third-party display driver. When an emergency condition is detected, the emergency detection module may use the display override module to override any display messages from the third-party display module in order to display an emergency display message. In an embodiment, the display override module may be a switch box. In another embodiment, the display override module may be a RSS feed subscribed to by the third-party display driver. Other embodiments are described and claimed.