Incident Scene Network Service Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public safety networks face bandwidth overload due to multiple devices running applications even when not in use, leading to degraded service for first responders at incident scenes, as they rely heavily on wide-area network bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
Devices at incident scenes join a local-area network, determine available services, and host client/server-based services, allowing multiple devices to act as local servers, reducing WAN bandwidth usage by shifting data traffic to the LAN and enabling operation without a WAN connection for some services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices continue to run applications and connect to WAN when not in use, then service coverage is maintained, but WAN bandwidth consumption increases dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) components. Devices first attempt to communicate through local LAN connections, and only fall back to WAN when necessary. This segmentation allows services to be provided locally without consuming precious WAN bandwidth, while maintaining service coverage through the distributed device network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling devices to provide services to each other within the incident scene network. Instead of all devices relying on central servers via WAN, any device can act as a service provider to other devices on the scene, reducing WAN dependency and bandwidth consumption while maintaining service availability.
2Reliability
If multiple devices are deployed at incident scenes, then service availability is improved, but WAN bandwidth overload occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple devices into a collaborative network where they collectively provide services to each other. Instead of each device independently consuming WAN bandwidth for the same services, devices are combined into a peer-to-peer network that shares resources and services locally, improving service availability without proportionally increasing WAN bandwidth usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to service delivery by implementing local LAN communication at the incident scene. This creates a new communication dimension (local wireless mesh network) alongside the traditional WAN connection, allowing devices to access services through the nearest available device rather than all traffic routing through centralized WAN servers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices left in vehicles continue to run applications, then service readiness is maintained, but valuable WAN bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading service capabilities and maintaining devices in a ready state within the local incident scene network. Devices can join the network dynamically when needed, and services are already available locally without requiring active WAN connections from standby devices, maintaining service readiness while reducing continuous WAN bandwidth consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for providing a service at an incident scene is provided herein. During operation, a device will enter a geographic area (e.g., an incident scene), join a local-area network (LAN), and determine what services are presently being offered by other devices on the LAN. From a list of services deployed on the device, a determination is then made as to what services the device will run, and those services are then offered to all devices on the LAN.