Service Instance Allocation for Isolated Responders

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Solution Overview

Problem

Public safety responders face communication disruptions when isolated from the main incident scene, leading to loss of service capabilities due to lack of service instances on mobile devices within the WLAN.

Innovation Solution

An incident task-based allocation method and apparatus that utilizes an incident task analyzer and service allocation manager to predict and ensure service instances are allocated to mobile devices before they lose connectivity with the WLAN, allowing for continuous communication among responders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If service instances are hosted only on mobile devices connected to the main WLAN, then centralized service management is simplified, but responders isolated from the main WLAN lose service capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice management complexityVSAvoidservice availability for isolated responders
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments service instance deployment by creating two categories: core service instances hosted on main WLAN devices for centralized management, and local service instances hosted on mobile devices of potentially isolated responders. This segmentation allows each segment to operate independently, ensuring service continuity for isolated responders while maintaining centralized coordination for core services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively identifying responders who may become isolated before disconnection occurs. Service instances are pre-allocated to these responders' mobile devices in advance, ensuring service continuity is established before the isolation event happens, rather than attempting to restore services after disconnection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If service instances are allocated to all mobile devices, then service availability for isolated responders is ensured, but data traffic and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availability for isolated respondersVSAvoiddata traffic consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by making service instance allocation decisions specific to each mobile device based on its isolation risk profile. Rather than uniformly allocating services to all devices, the system selectively deploys service instances only to devices identified as potentially isolated, optimizing resource usage while ensuring service availability where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of service instance allocation from a static all-or-nothing approach to a dynamic risk-based approach. The allocation decision is based on changing parameters such as responder location, task assignment, and predicted movement patterns, allowing the system to adapt service distribution to current operational conditions and minimize unnecessary resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If service instances are pre-allocated to mobile devices before isolation, then service continuity is maintained, but device resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuity during isolationVSAvoiddevice resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary service instance allocation only for mobile devices of responders identified as potentially isolated, rather than pre-allocating to all devices. This selective preliminary action reduces the total quantity of service instances deployed while ensuring continuity for those who need it most.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic service instance management where the presence and configuration of service instances on mobile devices changes based on real-time conditions. Service instances are allocated, activated, or deactivated dynamically as responders move between connected and isolated states, optimizing device resource usage while maintaining service continuity when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3135049B1Method and apparatus for incident task based allocation of service instances
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC
  • EP3135049B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3135049B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3135049B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and apparatus for task-based allocation of services at an incident scene include determining assignments for a plurality of users at the incident scene, each of the plurality of users comprising a mobile device; identifying a group of the plurality of users performing a similar function near one another or at a same area; determining if the group is likely to be separated from a wireless local area network at the incident scene; and, in response to determining that the group is likely to be separated from the local area network, allocating service instances on at least one mobile device associated with the group.