Peer-to-Peer Location Tracking for Emergency Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency call systems for groups, such as mountaineers or hikers, are inefficient as they require external network connectivity and may not automatically detect when a member has left the group, leading to potential delays in triggering an emergency call, especially in areas with limited energy supply.
Innovation Solution
A wireless peer-to-peer communication network among group members, using devices with GPS and radio technologies like NB-loT, allows for efficient location tracking and automatic emergency call triggering without relying on external networks, utilizing a master-slave configuration and IoT connections for energy efficiency and broader coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external mobile network connectivity is used for emergency calls, then reliable communication can be established, but energy consumption increases and response time delays occur in areas with poor network coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the emergency call function into two parts: local peer-to-peer communication within the group (low energy) and external network communication only when necessary (high energy). This allows the system to maintain reliability through multiple communication paths while reducing overall energy consumption by using the low-power peer-to-peer network for routine monitoring and location sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing peer-to-peer connections and implementing automated monitoring before an emergency occurs. The group members' locations are continuously tracked and compared against the defined area boundaries in advance, so that when someone leaves the group area, the system can immediately trigger an emergency call without waiting for manual intervention or external network availability.
2Device complexity
If manual emergency call triggering is required, then system complexity is reduced, but response time increases when a group member cannot operate their device
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback mechanisms where the monitoring function continuously checks whether all group members are within the specified area. When a member leaves the area or fails to respond to location requests, the system automatically triggers an emergency call. This feedback loop eliminates the need for manual intervention while maintaining simple device operation, as users only need to activate the system initially without needing to understand its complex monitoring logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically detecting when a group member has left the group area and autonomously initiating the emergency call procedure. The monitoring function compares location data, determines when someone is outside the defined boundaries, and triggers the emergency alert without requiring any action from the affected individual or other group members, thus saving critical response time.
3Measurement precision
If GPS location tracking is continuously monitored for all group members, then automatic detection of missing persons is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by implementing location monitoring at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. The monitoring function checks group member locations at defined time periods, which maintains sufficient precision for detecting when someone has left the group area while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous tracking. This periodic approach balances measurement accuracy with energy efficiency for extended outdoor use.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a communication and location system (100), comprising: a group of at least two communication devices (101, 102, 103); and a wireless peer-to-peer communication network (110) configured to connect the group of communication devices (101, 102, 103) to each other wirelessly, each communication device of the group of communication devices (101, 102, 103) having a tracking device (101b, 102b, 103b) and a communication device (101a, 102a, 103a), the tracking device (101b, 102b, 103b) being configured to determine a geographical position of the communication device (101, 102, 103), and the communication device (101a, 102a, 103a) being configured to transmit the geographical position of the communication device via the peer-to-peer communication network (110) to at least one other communication device of the group of communication devices (101, 102, 103) to transfer.