Localized Building Alert via Lighting System
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Solution Overview
Problem
During emergency events in buildings, it is challenging to locate aid recipients and determine the appropriate egress or rescue routes due to extenuating circumstances such as smoke or structural damage, and there is uncertainty about the type of aid required by the recipient.
Innovation Solution
A building alert system that includes a processor, memory, and a lighting system, which detects emergency events and communicates localized alerts through lighting and entertainment systems, encoding information about the aid recipient's location, egress route, and rescue route, thereby guiding both the aid recipient and the aid giver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional building alert systems are used during emergencies, then alerts can be communicated throughout the building, but the alerts cannot be localized to specific recipients or routes, causing confusion and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by encoding different alert information in different spatial locations within the building. Each zone or area receives customized alert data relevant to its specific occupants and egress routes, rather than broadcasting uniform alerts throughout the entire building. This is achieved through the building controller distributing localized alert portions to specific zones based on pre-configured recipient and route information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If building alerts provide comprehensive information about all emergency conditions, then all occupants receive complete safety information, but the information cannot be tailored to specific individuals or locations, reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the building alert system into multiple independent components: building controller, zone controllers, and individual alert portions. Each segment handles specific functions - the building controller manages overall coordination, zone controllers distribute alerts to specific areas, and individual alert portions contain targeted information for specific recipients or routes. This segmentation enables customized information delivery to different building zones without compromising overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes parameter changes by dynamically modifying alert characteristics such as location, recipient, route information, and alert portion distribution based on the specific emergency conditions and occupant needs. The building controller adjusts these parameters in real-time to provide adaptive, customized alerts rather than static, one-size-fits-all notifications.
3Measurement precision
If sensors and biosensors detect emergency events, then the system can identify when aid is needed, but the system cannot determine the specific location or type of aid required by the recipient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where sensors and biosensors continuously monitor building conditions and occupant status, feeding this information back to the building controller. The controller processes this feedback data to determine specific emergency conditions, recipient locations, and aid requirements. This closed-loop feedback system enables the building to adapt its alert distribution based on real-time sensor data about emergency events and recipient needs.
Data Source
AI summary
For communicating a localized building alert, a processor detects an emergency event. In response to detecting the emergency event, the processor communicates a localized building alert through a lighting system. The localized building alert is restricted to a location of one of an aid recipient and an aid giver.