Emergency Network Slice Activation via Mobile Virtual Handshake

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laypeople facing emergencies often struggle to access dedicated network slices for emergency services, which are easily accessible by first responders, due to device settings that hinder communication and location sharing.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device initiates a virtual handshake with an application server to automatically reconfigure settings, enabling access to a dedicated network slice for emergency services, allowing location sharing and communication with emergency providers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If device settings are configured to protect user privacy and security, then user privacy and security are improved, but access to emergency services and location sharing are hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser privacy and securityVSAvoidaccess to emergency services

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting emergency indicators (such as emergency dialing patterns or emergency application launches) and automatically reconfiguring device settings before emergency services need access. This preliminary detection and automatic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction by proactively changing privacy settings when emergencies are detected, rather than requiring manual user action during critical moments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If device settings restrict network access to protected channels, then network security is improved, but automatic access to dedicated emergency network slices is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidautomatic access to emergency network slices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts network slice selection based on detected emergency conditions. When an emergency is detected through virtual handshake protocols, the device automatically transitions from restricted protected channel access to enabling access to dedicated emergency network slices. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making network access flexible rather than static, allowing security restrictions to be temporarily lifted for emergency services while maintaining them during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If manual configuration of emergency access settings is required, then user control is improved, but response time during emergencies is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidresponse time during emergencies

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by automatically detecting emergency situations and reconfiguring device settings without requiring manual user intervention. The virtual handshake protocol enables the device to autonomously identify emergencies and activate appropriate network slices, thereby eliminating the time delay associated with manual configuration while maintaining user control through the ability to initiate emergency protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If standard network protocols are used for emergency communication, then compatibility is improved, but dedicated emergency service requirements are not met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork compatibilityVSAvoiddedicated emergency service performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments network communication into standard protocols for general use and dedicated emergency network slices for critical services. Through virtual handshake detection, the device automatically routes emergency communications through specialized network slices that provide guaranteed performance, while maintaining compatibility with standard protocols for non-emergency traffic. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by creating separate communication paths that satisfy both compatibility requirements and dedicated emergency service performance needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260067660A1Automatically activating a dedicated network slice for emergencies

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

In one example, a method includes receiving a message from a mobile device of a user that initiates a virtual handshake, wherein the user is not a first responder, sending, in response to a completion of the virtual handshake, a first instruction that causes the mobile device to modify a setting of the mobile device to facilitate access to a slice of a communications network that is dedicated for use by emergency services, detecting, via the slice, a current physical location of the mobile device; and reporting, via the slice, the current physical location of the mobile device to a provider of an emergency service.