Elliptical Location Data Shape Conversion for Emergency Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
The uncertainty in location determination of mobile devices contacting emergency services, due to the inherent inaccuracies in location determination methods, leads to inefficiencies in emergency response as the provided location data often results in a large geographical area rather than a specific location, causing difficulties for emergency services to locate the user effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that minimizes uncertainty by converting UE-provided location data from an elliptically-shaped area of uncertainty into a circular-shaped area, bypassing unnecessary shape conversions when the semimajor and semiminor axes are equal, ensuring that the location data is formatted into a format required by emergency services without introducing additional uncertainty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional location determination methods are used for mobile devices, then the location can be determined without physical connection constraints, but the location accuracy deteriorates resulting in large geographical uncertainty areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location uncertainty area into an elliptical representation with distinct semimajor and semiminor axes, allowing separate characterization of uncertainty in different directional dimensions. This segmentation enables more precise representation of location uncertainty compared to conventional circular areas, directly addressing the measurement precision problem while maintaining the flexibility of mobile device location determination.
2Ease of operation
If shape conversion is performed on location data, then the location format can be standardized for emergency services, but additional uncertainty is introduced through the conversion process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-evaluating whether shape conversion is necessary before performing it. The system checks if the elliptical uncertainty area already meets emergency service requirements, and only performs conversion when actually needed. This prevents unnecessary conversions that would introduce additional uncertainty, while still ensuring proper formatting when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the location determination system to automatically assess its own output quality and determine whether conversion is needed. The system self-evaluates the elliptical uncertainty parameters and makes intelligent decisions about formatting, eliminating the need for blanket conversion processes that would degrade precision.
3Reliability
If unnecessary shape conversions are performed, then location data formatting can be ensured, but the uncertainty in location data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a pre-check evaluation of the elliptical uncertainty area against emergency service requirements before executing shape conversion. This advance assessment ensures that conversion is only performed when necessary for compliance, preventing unnecessary operations that would increase uncertainty while still guaranteeing format reliability when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of providing a location that include receiving location data from user equipment, such as a cellphone or mobile device, and providing the location data in an acceptable form to emergency services, such as a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The location data from the user equipment can undergo a shape conversion process prior to being transmitted to emergency services. The systems and methods evaluate the received location data to determine if a semimajor and a semiminor axis of the received location data are equal in magnitude. If so, the shape conversion process is bypassed to prevent error from being introduced into the location data.