Emergency Exit Navigation via Barometric Floor Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
During a fire emergency in a high-rise building, it is challenging for occupants to determine the closest path to an exit, and for trapped individuals to relay their location to emergency responders, especially for visitors who may not be familiar with the building layout.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves notifying an automated system of an emergency alarm, triggering a mobile device alarm, determining the device's location using GPS and barometric pressure, and providing a map with instructions to the nearest exit, including the use of iBeacons and Wi-Fi MAC addresses for accurate floor detection and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a person uses a mobile device to determine location during an emergency, then the user can receive real-time navigation instructions to the nearest exit, but the device complexity and power consumption increase due to multiple sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the emergency response functionality into separate modules: location determination using GPS, floor detection using barometric pressure sensors, iBeacon detection for precise positioning, and navigation instruction generation. Each module operates independently and can be activated as needed, reducing the overall complexity burden on the mobile device while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate components such as iBeacons deployed throughout the building and a server that processes location data and generates navigation instructions. These intermediaries handle complex processing tasks, allowing the mobile device to maintain simpler functionality while still providing accurate real-time guidance to exits.
2Measurement precision
If the system uses multiple methods to determine user location and floor, then the measurement precision improves, but the loss of time and energy increases due to multiple measurements and calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring GPS location, barometric pressure, and iBeacon signals in the background even before an emergency occurs. When an emergency is detected, the location determination is already in progress or complete, eliminating the need for time-consuming calculations during the critical emergency response period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic measurement selection where the system adapts which location determination methods to use based on the situation. For example, GPS is used for outdoor location, barometric pressure for floor detection in high-rise buildings, and iBeacons for precise indoor positioning. The system dynamically switches between these methods to maintain accuracy while minimizing processing time and energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to safely and efficiently evacuate the building by providing real-time location determination and navigation instructions, improving emergency response efficiency and occupant safety.
Implementation Method 1
receiving a barometric pressure measurement from the mobile device; receiving an atmospheric pressure and a temperature for an area in the vicinity of the specified location; and calculating an estimated elevation of the device at the specified location
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for determining a specific user location and path to an exit during an emergency condition. In response to an emergency alarm activated for a structure, a notification system may receive the alarm signal. The notification system may send a notification of the alert to a user mobile device when the user has subscribed to receive alerts regarding the structure. The notification may determine that the subscribed mobile device is located in the vicinity of the structure and activate an alarm on the device.