Emergency Location Service for Water-Based Network Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for locating network devices, especially those in emergency situations on or in water bodies, face challenges such as inadequate accuracy, reliance on manual intervention, and inability to automatically contact emergency responders due to lack of wireless interfaces with high-orbit satellites.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for an emergency location information service (E-LIS) that includes water-based network devices equipped with sensors, actuators, and wireless interfaces for low-power wide-area ultra-narrowband networks and low Earth orbit satellite connections, enabling automated emergency message sending and accurate location determination without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional location methods (maps, visual observation, dead reckoning) are used, then manual navigation can be performed, but the process requires time and human attention, and cannot be automated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical navigation methods with an automated electronic system that uses GPS receivers, mobile communication interfaces, and server-based processing to automatically determine and transmit location information, eliminating the need for human observation and manual map reading
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service location determination where the emergency location determination device automatically acquires its own location via GPS, processes the location data, and transmits it to emergency services without requiring human intervention or manual input
2Reliability
If E911 location technology is used for mobile devices, then emergency calls can be routed to PSAP with location information, but the system requires wireless signal coverage and cannot operate in remote areas or on water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal emergency location system that can operate across multiple environments including terrestrial areas with wireless coverage and remote water-based locations without wireless coverage, by integrating GPS reception, optional wireless communication capabilities, and satellite communication capabilities for areas without traditional wireless infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system extends emergency location capability from the terrestrial wireless network dimension to the satellite communication dimension, enabling operation in three-dimensional space including over water and remote areas where traditional wireless networks do not provide coverage
3Ease of operation
If water-based network devices lack wireless interfaces with high-orbit satellites, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to automatically contact emergency responders in remote water areas is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server-based emergency location determination system that acts as an intermediary between water-based network devices and emergency responders. The server receives location data from devices via various communication methods and automatically routes emergency information to appropriate responders, eliminating the need for complex satellite interfaces in each device while maintaining automatic emergency contact capability
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency location information service (E-LIS) for water-based network devices. The E-LIS includes a server application and server network devices that accepts emergency messages from water-based network devices. The water based network devices comprise one or more sensors or one or more actuators, a wireless connection interface including a wireless low power wide-area ultra-narrowband network interface and a wireless low earth orbit satellite network connection interface and is an automated network device capable of sensing is own environment and automatically sending out the one or more emergency messages or one or more emergency text messages without operator input to an E-LIS server network device when an emergency event occurs on a body of water. The E-LIS server network device provides a current physical geographic location for such water-based network devices and/or users of the water-based network devices in an emergency situation on the body of water such as a river, lake, sea, ocean, etc.