Encrypted Location Tracking for Emergency Network Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for locating network devices in emergency situations are not automated, leading to delays and inaccuracies, especially in conditions like poor visibility or when devices are moved from their provisioned locations, posing risks to user safety.
Innovation Solution
A system that continuously updates the current physical location of network devices and encrypts this information, allowing it to be sent and received automatically, and decrypted in real-time during emergency messages to route them directly to the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for immediate response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual navigation methods are used for location determination, then human observation and control are maintained, but location accuracy and response time deteriorate due to delays and human error
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic location determination through GPS receivers and cellular triangulation without requiring human observation or manual navigation. The device autonomously acquires location data, processes it through algorithms, and provides accurate positioning information to emergency services, eliminating human error and delays while maintaining high location accuracy.
2Loss of time
If automated location systems are implemented, then response time and accuracy improve, but system complexity increases due to multiple components and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple location determination methods (GPS receivers, cellular triangulation, dead reckoning) into a single multi-functional platform. This universal system can operate using any available method or combination of methods, providing rapid location determination while managing complexity through standardized processing algorithms and a unified architecture that handles diverse input sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors and updates location data in the background before emergencies occur, maintaining current position information ready for immediate transmission. This preliminary action ensures that when an emergency event is detected, location data is already acquired and processed, eliminating delays and reducing the complexity of real-time processing during critical moments.
3Reliability
If continuous location tracking is performed, then real-time location data is available for emergencies, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs location updates at periodic intervals rather than continuously, with the frequency adjusted based on device motion detection and emergency status. During normal operation, location is updated less frequently to conserve battery power, while automatically increasing update frequency when motion is detected or when an emergency event is identified, ensuring reliable location data availability while managing energy consumption effectively.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for locating a network device in an emergency situation. Current physical location information is obtained for a network device every time it registers on a network or moves to a new physical location. The current physical location is sent and received in an encrypted format to and from the network device. When the network device initiates an emergency message (e.g. 911, E911, NG911, text-to-911, 112, etc.) based on an emergency event (e.g., weather, crime, fire, natural disaster, medical, terrorist, military, etc.), the emergency message includes the encrypted current physical location information for the network device. The current physical location information is decrypted and the emergency message is immediately routed in real-time to an appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The appropriate PSAP is immediately notified in real-time so emergency responders (e.g., police, fire, medical, etc.) can be dispatched to the current physical location of the network device.