Smartphone-Controlled Emergency Lighting With Direct Alert Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency lighting systems rely on standalone control devices like key fobs that can be lost, misplaced, or malfunction, and do not facilitate direct communication with emergency personnel or third parties.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system using a smartphone app to control emergency lighting via a signal control hub, which activates light fixtures and optionally alerts third-party contacts, utilizing a server stack for communication and a unique hub serial number for activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standalone control device like a key fob is used, then the system can be operated portably, but the device can be lost, misplaced, or malfunction during an emergency situation
Solution Approach 1:
The smartphone serves multiple functions: it acts as the control device for emergency lighting, a communication device for contacting emergency services, and a notification device for alerting third parties. By making the smartphone universal, the system eliminates the need for a separate key fob while maintaining portability and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control function, communication function, and notification function into a single device (smartphone). This consolidation ensures that the control device is always available since smartphones are essential modern devices that users carry continuously, thereby improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If a separate control device is used, then the system can be simplified, but additional devices increase cost and risk of breakage or power drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The smartphone is utilized as a multi-functional device that combines emergency lighting control, emergency service communication, and third-party notification capabilities. This eliminates the need for separate control devices, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability by using a device users already possess and maintain.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the smartphone's existing capabilities (camera, communication functions, internet connectivity) rather than requiring additional dedicated hardware. The smartphone serves itself across multiple functions, reducing the need for extra components and their associated costs and failure points.
3Ease of operation
If a key fob control system is used, then the lighting activation is simple, but the system cannot communicate directly with emergency personnel or third parties
Solution Approach 1:
The smartphone application provides a universal interface that handles both the simple task of activating emergency lighting and the more complex tasks of communicating with emergency services and notifying third parties. This multi-functionality maintains ease of operation for lighting activation while adding versatile communication capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines lighting control functionality with communication functionality in a single integrated system. Users activate lighting and communicate with emergency services through the same smartphone interface, simplifying the user experience while expanding adaptability to handle multiple emergency response needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method and computer-readable medium for alerting emergency personnel. Using a mobile device, a signal is transmitted to a control hub, the control hub in wireless communication with a server. In response, the signal then transmits from the control hub to a designated switch of a light fixture in the user's home, for example, wherein the light fixture is activated into a flashing mode such that a visible, flashing display of light is presentable external to the home of the user to the emergency personnel. Concurrently, the signal from the mobile device then transmits from the control hub to a 911 call center; and, optionally, the signal can be transmitted over the server to a third-party emergency contact.