Emergency Service Interface for Cross-Border Location Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency service contact numbers are inconsistent across countries, and existing systems fail to quickly and accurately provide the correct number or location information during emergencies, leading to potential delays that can be life-threatening.
Innovation Solution
A system that automatically detects location changes and adjusts emergency contact numbers, integrates activity recognition to determine appropriate rescue services, and enables shared location tracking with other users or services, using a mobile application to facilitate seamless communication and location sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a person relies on remembering welcome messages with emergency numbers when traveling to a new country, then they can potentially contact emergency services, but they may lose valuable time or forget the number entirely in distress
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads the correct emergency service number for the detected country into the application before the user needs it. When the device detects entry into a new country, the app automatically retrieves and stores the appropriate emergency number, so it is immediately available when needed without requiring the user to search or remember it.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application acts as an intermediary between the user and emergency services. Instead of directly relying on memory or manual lookup, the app mediates by automatically providing the correct emergency number based on location detection, bridging the gap between the user's need and the available information.
2Loss of information
If a person tries to describe their location to emergency services during a phone call, then they can potentially convey location information, but it is difficult and time-consuming without recognizable landmarks
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical process of verbally describing location with automated electronic data transmission. Instead of the user struggling to articulate their position using landmarks or directions, the app automatically extracts GPS coordinates and transmits them electronically to emergency services, substituting human cognitive effort with automated spatial data processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the user's physical location through GPS coordinates. Rather than the user attempting to communicate their physical position through words, the app captures the precise digital representation of their location and transmits this copied spatial information to emergency responders.
3Ease of operation
If a friend calls emergency services on behalf of a missing person, then they can initiate rescue efforts, but they cannot convey the missing person's location without that information
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile application serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the friend calling for help and the missing person's location information. The app automatically retrieves and transmits the location data associated with the missing person's device, allowing the friend to contact emergency services without needing to know or have access to the location information themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically providing location information without requiring the caller to obtain it manually. When a friend initiates an emergency call through the app, the system automatically retrieves and attaches the missing person's location data to the emergency service notification, eliminating the need for the friend to separately acquire this information.
Data Source
AI summary
An application initiates a communications session with an emergency services agency. The application determines an emergency contact services interface with an association to a first destination address corresponding to a first country in which the user device last initialized the application. The application determines, based on location data, whether the user device has entered a second country, and reprograms, in response to determination of entry into the second country, the emergency contact services interface with an association to a second destination address of an emergency services agency of the second country. Responsive to detecting selection of the emergency contact services interface, a data communication session is established with the emergency services agency of the second country, the data communication session sharing at least audio and auxiliary information with the emergency services agency of the second country.