Emergency Location System Using Wireless Signal Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the location of individuals making E911 calls in emergency situations are often inaccurate, require manual intervention, and lack rapid automation, especially in environments with poor visibility or hostile conditions, leading to potential delays in emergency response.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for determining and verifying the location of mobile devices using a network of smart and dumb devices, which communicate via a communications network to translate pre-determined coordinates into a current physical geographic location, enabling automated and accurate location determination and forwarding this information to emergency services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If conventional navigation methods (maps and visual observation or dead reckoning) are used, then human observers can determine location, but the process is not automated and requires time and attention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation determination automationVSAvoidtime for location determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual navigation methods with an automated electronic system that uses wireless signals (RFID, Wi-Fi, cellular) and sensors to automatically determine location. The system substitutes human observation and dead reckoning with electronic signal processing and coordinate translation algorithms, achieving rapid automated location determination without requiring human attention or time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual navigation is used, then personnel can establish their location, but the method is vitiated when visibility is impacted by flame or smoke or personnel are under hostile fire

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation determination reliabilityVSAvoidvisibility impairment from flame or smoke

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces visual observation methods with wireless signal-based location determination that is unaffected by smoke, flame, or hostile fire conditions. Sensors and wireless communicators automatically transmit and process signals to determine location without requiring visual line of sight or human presence in dangerous environments, thereby maintaining reliability under adverse conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless signals and electronic sensors as intermediaries between the personnel and the location determination process. These intermediaries operate independently of human observers and can function in environments where visibility is compromised, allowing location data to be obtained without exposing personnel to harmful conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If E911 location technology is used, then mobile devices can provide geographic position to emergency services, but the accuracy is limited to tower location rather than precise device location

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidlocation determination system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the location determination process into multiple independent components: wireless signal reception, coordinate data storage, translation algorithms, and verification mechanisms. By dividing the system into discrete functional modules, it achieves high location accuracy through multi-source data fusion while managing complexity through modular architecture where each component performs a specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses universal wireless communication protocols and sensors that can operate across multiple device types and network infrastructures. The coordinate translation mechanism is designed to work with various coordinate systems and location sources (RFID, Wi-Fi, cellular), providing precise location determination without requiring device-specific complex implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If rapid automated location determination is implemented, then emergency response time is reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency response speedVSAvoidlocation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing coordinate reference data and establishing translation algorithms before emergency situations occur. The system maintains databases of coordinate systems and translation rules that can be rapidly applied during emergencies, enabling fast automated location determination without requiring complex real-time calculations or data collection during the emergency response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8755767B2Method and system for an emergency location information service (E-LIS)

Publication Date: 2014.06.17 RED SKY TECH

AI summary

A method and system for determining and verifying a location of mobile and non-mobile devices in emergency situations. The method and system provide a current physical geographic location for a mobile device (e.g., building address, a building floor, a room on a building floor, campus, enterprise, city, state, region, country, continent, etc.), in an emergency situation such as an accident, fire, terrorist attack, military incident, etc. and forward the physical geographic location to a legacy 911 network or a Emergency Services IP networks (ESInet).