Sensor Information Mediator for Cross-Organization Emergency Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 'silo effect' prevents the sharing of sensor information across multiple organizations, hindering timely and appropriate responses to emergency conditions, as seen in incidents like the Boston Marathon bombings, where integrated monitoring of sensors from various organizations is not practical on a widespread basis.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that monitors sensors belonging to multiple organizations, detects emergency conditions, associates locations with detected conditions, and sends reports to authorized recipients, including lists of authorized and unauthorized sensors proximally located to the emergency, using a processor and memory to manage sensor authorization levels and proximity-based reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor information is shared across multiple organizations, then emergency response effectiveness is improved, but security and privacy concerns worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a trusted mediator between organizations' sensors and emergency responders. This intermediary validates sensor data, manages authorization levels, and controls information distribution, thereby enabling effective emergency response while maintaining security and privacy through a trusted third-party coordination mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements differential access rights where different organizations and responders receive different levels of sensor information based on their authorization. Instead of universal sharing or complete isolation, the system provides tailored information access - full access to authorized responders for critical sensors, limited access to unauthorized entities, and selective sharing based on emergency context and organizational policies.
2Loss of information
If integrated monitoring of multiple organizations' sensors is implemented, then contextual information for emergency response is improved, but system complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal sensor information management system that handles multiple organizations' diverse sensors through a common platform. This system performs multiple functions - data collection, validation, storage, authorization management, and distribution - through a single integrated architecture, reducing overall system complexity while enabling comprehensive contextual information gathering across organizational boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the integrated monitoring system into modular components: individual organization sensor networks remain independent units, while the intermediary system provides standardized interfaces for data exchange. This segmentation allows organizations to maintain control over their own sensors while enabling integration at the intermediary level, reducing the complexity burden on individual organizations.
3Reliability
If sensor authorization levels are strictly enforced, then security is improved, but information sharing capability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic authorization where access rights are not fixed but adapt based on emergency context, sensor criticality, and organizational policies. The intermediary system can temporarily elevate authorization levels during emergencies, adjust access based on real-time threat assessment, and dynamically grant or revoke permissions, thereby maintaining security while enabling flexible information sharing when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for reporting the existence of sensors belonging to multiple organizations that are proximally located to a requested location. The report includes a first list of sensors that are unauthorized and discoverable and a second list of sensors that are authorized.