Property Communication Nodes for Reliable Home Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems, such as cell phones and land-line telephones, often fail to provide reliable bidirectional communication within homes and other occupied spaces due to issues like battery drain, inoperable networks, or users being out of range, leading to a lack of communication during emergencies or routine interactions.
Innovation Solution
An interactive communication system featuring Property Communication Nodes (PCNs) and a broker service that enables programmable, bidirectional communication across various locations, using wireless or wired connections, with sensors and annunciation functions to ensure seamless communication and emergency alerts, even during power outages or natural disasters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cell phone is used for communication, then portability and mobility are improved, but battery life is reduced and communication reliability deteriorates when the battery is drained or the phone is turned off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a land-line telephone system as an intermediary communication channel within the home. When the cell phone battery is drained or the device is turned off, the land-line telephone serves as a backup communication medium, ensuring continuous communication capability without requiring the cell phone to remain powered on.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by having a land-line telephone ready and available in advance. This backup system is prepared ahead of time to compensate for potential cell phone failures, ensuring that communication reliability is maintained even when the primary mobile device becomes inoperative.
2Reliability
If a land-line telephone is used for communication, then communication reliability is improved, but portability deteriorates as users are confined to home locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal communication system that integrates both cell phone and land-line telephone functionalities. The system can switch between mobile and fixed-line communication modes, allowing users to maintain communication reliability while preserving a degree of portability through the hybrid approach.
3Loss of energy
If the cell phone is turned off or set to diminished alert status, then energy consumption is reduced, but communication responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The land-line telephone acts as an intermediary that remains active and responsive while the cell phone is turned off or in diminished alert status. This ensures that communication responsiveness is maintained through the land-line channel, compensating for the reduced responsiveness of the mobile device.
4Reliability
If multiple communication devices are maintained, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The land-line telephone serves as a simple intermediary device that adds minimal complexity to the system. Rather than requiring complex integrated systems, the patent uses a straightforward dual-device approach where the land-line telephone provides basic backup functionality, keeping the overall system complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for interactive property communication. In various embodiments, an interactive property communication system includes two or more property communication nodes (PCNs) each adapted for coupling to an electrical service. PCNs include a radio transceiver for communications with a broker service adapted for controlling communications with one or more PCNs.