Mobile Device Location Determination for Emergency Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency call services face challenges in determining the location of mobile devices, especially indoors where satellite signals are weak or absent, leading to inaccurate or unavailable location data for public safety answering points (PSAPs).
Innovation Solution
A mobile device enables location determination functions temporarily during emergency calls, using multiple attempts with varying uncertainty thresholds to determine a location using satellite and wireless access point signals, and submits the location along with uncertainty information to a dispatcher through a mobile network operator, ensuring privacy by disabling location functions post-emergency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If location determination functions are continuously enabled to ensure accurate location submission to PSAPs, then location accuracy is improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The location determination function is enabled temporarily and periodically only during emergency calls rather than continuously. The system activates location services when an emergency call is detected, performs location determination, submits the location to PSAP, and then disables the location function again. This periodic activation ensures location accuracy is sufficient during emergencies while protecting user privacy during normal operation.
2Reliability
If multiple location determination attempts with varying uncertainty thresholds are performed, then location submission success rate is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the uncertainty threshold for location determination based on the attempt number. In the first time window, a first (stricter) uncertainty threshold is applied. If location determination fails, the system transitions to a second time window with a second (more lenient) uncertainty threshold. This dynamic adjustment increases the probability of successful location submission while managing time consumption through structured time windows.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If location functions are enabled only temporarily during emergency calls, then user privacy is protected, but location determination reliability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting the emergency call state and proactively enabling location determination functions before location submission is attempted. The mobile device determines it is making an emergency call, enables location functions in advance, performs location determination with multiple attempts and varying thresholds, and then disables functions after submission. This preliminary activation ensures location reliability is maintained during the critical emergency window.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for submitting a location of a mobile device to a public service for providing emergency assistance are described. A mobile device can determine that a user is making an emergency call from the mobile device. The mobile device can then enable a location determination function of the mobile device and determine a location of the mobile device. The mobile device can determine the location in multiple attempts, including, in a first time window, attempting to determine a location with low uncertainty and, if the attempt fails, determining a location with high uncertainty in a second time window. The mobile device can then submit the location to a dispatcher through a mobile network operator.