Emergency Response App Integrating Location Tracking and Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency response systems at facilities face challenges in coordinating communication and location tracking of employees during emergencies, making it difficult for Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) to execute coordinated responses and ensure employee safety.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system using mobile applications that integrates with APIs, geolocation services, and employee management systems to provide real-time communication, location tracking, and collaboration tools for ERT members, allowing them to pinpoint employee locations and coordinate responses effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional communication methods are used during emergencies, then employees can be alerted to potential emergencies, but ERT members face difficulty communicating with each other to execute coordinated responses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication functions (ERT member-to-member communication, ERT member-to-employee communication, location tracking, and emergency response coordination) into a single integrated mobile application platform. This merging eliminates the need for separate communication devices and protocols, allowing all stakeholders to interact through one unified system that reduces information loss while maintaining manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a communication tool for ERT members, a location tracking system, an emergency alert mechanism for employees, and a coordination platform for response activities. This multi-functionality ensures comprehensive communication coverage without requiring multiple specialized systems, thereby reducing information loss across different communication needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If employees are scattered across multiple physical locations within a facility, then company operations are flexible, but it becomes difficult for employees to locate distressed employees and contact them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical presence and manual location tracking with electronic geolocation services and mobile device-based tracking systems. The system automatically determines employee locations using GPS, Wi-Fi positioning, or cellular triangulation, and displays this information on digital floor plans within the application. This substitution enables continuous, real-time location monitoring of scattered employees without requiring physical surveillance or manual reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application serves as an intermediary between employees at different physical locations, providing a digital platform that connects dispersed workers. The application's floor plan visualization and location tracking features act as a mediator that bridges the physical separation, allowing employees to easily locate and contact colleagues regardless of their physical distance or movement within the facility.
3Productivity
If employees need to communicate their location and safety status in real-time, then emergency response coordination improves, but the system requires sophisticated tracking and communication capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables employees to automatically report their location and safety status through the mobile application without requiring complex manual input. The application uses device sensors, geolocation services, and automated status detection to self-update employee information in real-time. This self-service capability allows continuous tracking and communication of employee status while minimizing the complexity of user interaction and system requirements.
4Speed
If ERT members need to know each other's status and coordinate responses quickly, then emergency response speed improves, but the system requires real-time information sharing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile application implements real-time feedback mechanisms that continuously update ERT members on each other's status, location, and activities during emergency responses. The system provides instant notifications when ERT members check in, report status changes, or move to different locations. This continuous feedback loop ensures all ERT members have current information about their teammates, enabling rapid coordination while preventing information loss through automated status synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided in which an application at each user device monitors locations of user devices. A location of a first user device within a facility and identification information associated with a user who is associated with the first user device can be determined and a floorplan can be generated and then caused to displayed via a user interface of a second user device. The floorplan includes an icon that represents the location of the first user device.