Smart Card Mobile Pull Station for Emergency Location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack effective methods for accurately locating individuals in emergency situations such as fires, school shootings, medical emergencies, and chemical spills, and for notifying authorities in a timely manner.
Innovation Solution
A smart card-based mobile pull station system that uses a mesh-based network to transmit emergency signals, allowing nearby devices to relay the signal to a control panel or rescue operator's device, with feedback mechanisms and power boosting to ensure signal detection, and identifying the user's location based on the signal origin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fixed pull stations are used, then notification capability is provided, but accessibility is limited when traditional pull stations are inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed pull station into a dynamic mobile pull station by integrating the alerting functionality into a portable smart card device. This allows the notification capability to move with the individual, ensuring accessibility anywhere within the coverage area while maintaining reliable notification capability through wireless mesh network connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart card device serves multiple functions: it acts as both an identification card for access control and as a mobile pull station for emergency notification. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate fixed pull stations in hard-to-reach areas, as the universal smart card can be carried and used anywhere.
2Area of stationary object
If fixed pull stations are installed throughout a building, then coverage is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the notification functionality from the fixed infrastructure and places it into the portable smart card device. This eliminates the need to install numerous fixed pull stations throughout the building, thereby maintaining full coverage area without increasing system complexity or installation cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart card device serves itself as both the user identification medium and the emergency notification device. Individuals carry their own notification capability, eliminating the need for the system to provide fixed infrastructure throughout the building area.
3Reliability
If signal power is increased to ensure detection, then detection reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the smart card device transmits its location and alert status through the mesh network, and receiving nodes provide acknowledgment. This feedback allows the system to adjust signal transmission dynamically, maintaining reliable detection without continuously operating at maximum power, thus conserving energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh network acts as an intermediary, relaying signals between the smart card device and the central monitoring system. This allows the device to transmit at lower power levels while still ensuring reliable detection through multi-hop relay transmission across the network.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of a smart card based mobile pull station are provided. For example, a smart card can include control circuitry and an activation mechanism. In some methods, the smart card can receive user input to activate the activation mechanism of the smart card, and upon activation of the activation mechanism, the control circuitry of the smart card can transmit an emergency signal. In some methods, a wireless device can receive the emergency signal from the smart card, the wireless device can transmit the emergency signal to a remote device, and the remote device can identify a location of the smart card based on a location of the wireless device.