Geographically Targeted Emergency Alert System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emergency alert systems are inefficient in quickly and cost-effectively reaching all relevant individuals within a geographic area, often relying on expensive and unreliable methods such as door-to-door communication, sirens, emergency broadcasting systems, and automated telephone calling, which are either too broad or too narrow in their reach.

Innovation Solution

A geographically-targeted emergency alert system that uses emergency alert enabled devices (EAEDs) embedded in various host devices, such as cell phones and televisions, which receive and retransmit emergency alert messages via satellite or cellular networks, ensuring only devices within the affected area receive the alerts, thus providing quick, reliable, and cost-effective communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If door-to-door communication is used to alert persons in the emergency area, then the emergency information reaches the relevant members of the public, but the cost and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency information deliveryVSAvoidtime for officers to contact persons

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical door-to-door communication system with an automated electronic message delivery system. The system uses computer networks and automated messaging to deliver emergency alerts to persons in the target area, eliminating the need for law enforcement officers to physically visit each location while maintaining reliable information delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an automated message delivery system as an intermediary between the emergency alert source and the target persons. This intermediary system handles the communication task automatically, freeing law enforcement officers from the time-consuming door-to-door contact process while ensuring messages reach the intended recipients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If automated telephone calling systems are used to send emergency alerts, then the system is geographically specific, but the system jams the local telephone switching network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeographic targeting accuracyVSAvoidnetwork congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a multi-functional communication system that can deliver emergency alerts through multiple channels including email, text messages, and other electronic messaging platforms. This universal approach allows the system to reach persons in the target geographic area without overloading the telephone network, as messages can be delivered through various communication pathways simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the emergency broadcasting system is used to send alerts, then many persons are reached quickly, but the reach is too broad and excludes persons not watching live broadcasts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of alert disseminationVSAvoidgeographic targeting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by tailoring the alert delivery to specific geographic locations and individual persons within those locations. The system identifies persons in the emergency area and delivers alerts directly to them through their personal devices, ensuring both rapid dissemination and precise geographic targeting without the waste of broad broadcasting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Speed

If Internet and e-mail are used to send emergency alert information, then the process works quickly, but the reach is limited and not geographically limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealert delivery speedVSAvoidgeographic area coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses preliminary action by pre-collecting contact information and geographic data for persons in potential emergency areas. The system maintains updated databases of persons by location, allowing rapid deployment of geographically-targeted alerts when emergencies occur, combining the speed of electronic messaging with precise geographic coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7679505B1Emergency alert system

Publication Date: 2010.03.16 ADVANCED COMPUTER & COMMUNICATIONS LLC

AI summary

An emergency alert system is disclosed. The invention employs an emergency alert message, which directs end users to take some particular action like evacuating an identified geographic area. The invention further employs a geographic area message, which is based on a particular geographic area within which all persons should receive the emergency alert message. The invention utilizes an emergency alert enabled device that receives both the emergency alert message and the geographic area message. The emergency alert enabled device then determines whether it is located within the geographic area of concern, and if so, presents the emergency alert message to the end user.