Public Safety Network Access for Emergency Credential Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In emergency situations, private networks of facilities often remain inaccessible to first responders, despite containing critical information and access capabilities that could aid in addressing the emergency, such as security footage and door unlocking.
Innovation Solution
A public safety system that provides temporary access to private networks for first responders by sending configuration credentials to their user devices, allowing them to access facility information and interact with the network, using wireless technologies like 4G, LTE, Wi-Fi, or 5G, and enabling push-to-talk services and targeted alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If private networks remain closed to maintain security and privacy, then network security and user privacy are protected, but first responders cannot access critical information during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic network access control by transitioning the private network from a closed state during normal operations to an open state during emergencies. The system dynamically adjusts network accessibility based on emergency status, allowing first responders to access the network when needed while maintaining security during non-emergency periods. This is achieved through emergency status detection and automatic network state transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the access control parameters of the private network based on emergency conditions. During emergencies, the network parameters are modified to permit first responder access, while during normal operations, the parameters maintain restricted access. This parameter change approach allows the same network to serve different security requirements under different conditions.
2Ease of operation
If first responders are granted access to private networks during emergencies, then access to critical facility information is enabled, but network security and privacy protection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary access control mechanism that mediates between first responders and the private network. Rather than directly granting or denying access, the system uses an intermediate layer that verifies emergency status and authorizes access appropriately. This intermediary approach enables first responder access during emergencies while maintaining security controls, as the intermediary validates the legitimacy of access requests before permitting network entry.
3Productivity
If private networks are opened to first responders, then emergency response efficiency is improved, but network complexity and access management become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the system with first responder credentials and emergency access protocols before emergencies occur. The network is pre-prepared to recognize and authorize first responders when emergencies are detected, eliminating the need for complex real-time access management decisions. This preliminary setup simplifies access management during actual emergencies, as the system automatically recognizes authorized users and grants access based on pre-established rules.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are public safety systems and methods for providing private network access to a user device. An exemplary public safety system is configured to communicate with a plurality of private networks and a communications network. The exemplary public safety system is configured to receive an emergency notification identifying a first private network of the plurality of private networks. The exemplary public safety system is configured to select the first private network. The exemplary public safety system is configured to provision the first private network to accept a configuration credential. The exemplary public safety system is configured to send through the communications network the configuration credential to a user device, thereby provisioning a subscriber identification module (SIM) in the user device to access the first private network.