Machine-Readable Code for Emergency Contact Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users often face difficulties in accessing contact information for assistance when their mobile devices are locked or incapacitated, as nearby individuals may not have the necessary information to communicate with the user's contacts, especially in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to register a machine-readable code, which can be displayed on various objects or devices, enabling unknown users to capture and decode it to retrieve and communicate the user's associated contact information, even if the user's device is locked or inaccessible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile devices are locked with passcodes or PINs for security, then device security is improved, but contact information accessibility for nearby users is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments contact information accessibility into two pathways: (1) direct access through unlocked devices, and (2) indirect access through machine-readable codes displayed on locked devices. This allows security to be maintained while providing an alternative route for emergency contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring machine-readable codes with contact information before emergencies occur. These codes are displayed on devices or physical objects in advance, so that when a user becomes incapacitated, nearby users can immediately scan and access contact information without needing to unlock the device.
2Ease of operation
If contact information is made accessible to nearby users for emergency assistance, then ease of operation is improved, but privacy and security of contact information is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces machine-readable codes as an intermediary between the locked device and nearby users. The codes contain or link to contact information without requiring access to the device's internal data, thus enabling emergency contact while maintaining device security and controlling information exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making contact information accessible only in specific contexts (when scanned by nearby users) rather than universally accessible. The machine-readable codes can be configured to provide information only to users in proximity or under specific conditions, maintaining privacy while enabling emergency access.
3Ease of operation
If machine-readable codes are displayed on physical objects for contact retrieval, then contact information accessibility is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating machine-readable code representations of contact information that can be displayed on devices or physical objects. Instead of modifying the core device architecture, the system generates simplified code copies that contain essential contact data, reducing the complexity burden on the main device while maintaining accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided systems and methods for machine-readable code displays for retrieval of associated contact data by other devices. A user may establish a machine-readable code with a service provider that corresponds to contact data of selected associates of the user, such as friends, family members, or assistance personnel. The contact data may be directed encoded into the machine-readable code or may be stored with the service provider so that when the code is captured, the contact data may be retrieved. The machine-readable code may be displayed on a fixed physical object or output by a mobile device of the user. When an unknown user comes across the visual code, the unknown user may capture the machine-readable code so that the unknown user may communicate a status of the user (e.g., an injury, accident, or requirement needed by the user) to the user's established contacts.